title: Design of an online health-promoting community: negotiating user community needs with public health goals and service capabilities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An online health-promoting community (OHPC) has the potential to promote health and advance new means of dialogue between public health representatives and the general public. The aim of this study was to examine what aspects of an OHPC that are critical for satisfying the needs of the user community and public health goals and service capabilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community-based participatory research methods were used for data collection and analysis, and participatory design principles to develop a case study OHPC for adolescents. Qualitative data from adolescents on health appraisals and perspectives on health information were collected in a Swedish health service region and classified into categories of user health information exchange needs. A composite design rationale for the OHPC was completed by linking the identified user needs, user-derived requirements, and technical and organizational systems solutions. Conflicts between end-user requirements and organizational goals and resources were identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most prominent health information needs were associated to food, exercise, and well-being. The assessment of the design rationale document and prototype in light of the regional public health goals and service capabilities showed that compromises were needed to resolve conflicts involving the management of organizational resources and responsibilities. The users wanted to discuss health issues with health experts having little time to set aside to the OHPC and it was unclear who should set the norms for the online discussions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OHPCs can be designed to satisfy both the needs of user communities and public health goals and service capabilities. Compromises are needed to resolve conflicts between users' needs to discuss health issues with domain experts and the management of resources and responsibilities in public health organizations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 83, Linköping, Sweden. joakim.ekberg@liu.se
authors.forename: Joakim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ekberg
authors.forename: Toomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Timpka
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Angbratt
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: Anna-Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Norén
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hedin
authors.forename: Emelie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Elin A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Gursky
authors.forename: Boel Andersson
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Gäre
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011634:Public Health; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013548:Sweden; D055815:Young Adult