[Structure and contents of online counselor's responses in the field of eating disorders].
OBJECTIVE
The importance of online counselling for many areas of health care has been increasing over the last years. Nevertheless, there is a lack of systematic research on the quality and specifics of the therapeutic intervention.


METHODS
n = 1056 responses written by online counsellors between 12 / 2007 and 11 / 2008 were qualitatively analyzed regarding content and frequencies.


RESULTS
Within a generalized counselling structure that contains greeting, mirroring, intervention and closure, further structural aspects could be determined and linked to the counselling goals.


CONCLUSIONS
The study's results serve the purpose of creating a better theoretical foundation for online counselling in health care.
Wesemann
Dorette
D
Universität Leipzig, Medizinische Fakultät, Paul-Flechsig-Institut für Hirnforschung, Haptik-Labor, Leipzig. Dorette.Wesemann@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Fritsch
Susanne
S
Kündiger
Christine
C
Grunwald
Martin
M
D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D004645:Empathy; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care / Q000592:standards; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*