title: Preliminary exploration of online social support among adults with asthma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate the qualitative and quantitative differences between moderated and unmoderated on-line social support groups focused on asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of a single months duration of Internet postings to four public on-line support groups focused on asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Content analysis of random set of messages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preliminary data indicate a quantitative and qualitative difference between moderated and unmoderated groups. Patterns of differences point to variations in the content of messages and the types of social support sought and provided.
authors.affiliation: Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Portland, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kirshner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D009862:Online Systems; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012657:Self-Help Groups