Mark Merolli*, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia Kathleen Gray, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia Fernando Martin-Sanchez, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia Track: Research Presentation Topic: Web 2.0 approaches for clinical practice, clinical research, quality monitoring Presentation Type: Rapid-Fire Presentation Submission Type: Single Presentation Building: Mermaid Room: Room 3 - Upper River Room Date: 2013-09-24 02:00 PM – 03:30 PM Last modified: 2013-09-25 Free Full Paper

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Background: Whilst there is an abundance of evidence-based practice (EBP) recommendations guiding management of various chronic diseases, evidence suggesting best practice for using social media to improve health outcomes is inadequate. The variety of social media platforms, multiple potential uses, inconsistent definitions and paucity of rigorous studies, make it difficult to measure health outcomes reliably in chronic disease management. Most published investigations report on an earlier generation of online tools, which are not as user-centered, participatory, engaging or collaborative and thus may work differently for health self-management.

Objective: The challenge to establish a sound evidence base for social media use in chronic disease starts with the need to define criteria and methods to generate and evaluate evidence. The authors’ key objective is to develop a framework for research and practice that addresses this challenge. This research requires closer examination of the therapeutic affordances of social media, valid outcome measurement of patient reported [health] outcomes, consideration of individual differences/personalization, and finally translation of the combined results to improve evidence-based interventions using social media in chronic disease management.

Methods: This research is targeting chronic pain as a representative subset of chronic disease for study purposes. First, a review of empirical and theoretical literature has been published in order to define potentially therapeutic affordances of social media in chronic disease management. Secondly, a global online survey was conducted, recruiting 231 people with chronic pain (PWCP) from various online health networks, smaller online pain support communities and chronic disease organizations, as well as international pain organizations. The survey's aim is to determine perceptions of the health outcomes experienced from use of social media (specifically considering therapeutic affordances). This will be followed by a pilot intervention to test how such affordances can be applied to tailor online self-management to individual PWCP.

Results: Based on thematic analysis of the literature in our published review, various therapeutic affordances of social media appear significant in relation to chronic disease health outcomes. This research has labelled these as identity, flexibility, structure, narration and adaptation. Preliminary survey data to be highlighted at the Med 2.0 conference will offer some empirical evidence regarding the specific effects on patient reported health outcomes from different therapeutic affordances of social media.

Conclusions: The results reported here, when refined in the pilot study will (a) inform a framework for conducting research into health outcomes from social media use in chronic disease, as well as support translating the findings into evidence of improved health outcomes, and (b) inform a set of recommendations for evidence-based interventions using social media as part of chronic pain self-management. These outcomes will fill a gap in the knowledge and resources available to PWCP, their clinicians and other researchers in chronic disease and the field of medicine 2.0.