title: Distressed and looking for help: Internet intervention support for arthritis self-management.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Focusing on youth with juvenile arthritis (JA), this study investigates eHealth interventions as a means to develop services to improve the health of youth with chronic conditions. Internet use and preferences for Internet-based interventions were compared among youth with high and low psychosocial quality of life (PS-QL) scores.
  
  
  METHODS
  Youth with JA (n = 134; high PS-QL, n = 67; low PS-QL, n = 67) completed the MyRheum online survey, which assessed physical functioning, psychosocial health, Internet usage, and amount of time spent using social networking Web sites. Youth indicated their choice, interest, and preferences in using a Web site for youth with JA. The t tests, chi-squared tests, and Fisher exact tests were used to assess significance between high and low PS-QL groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Youth with lower PS-QL reported greater intrusiveness of their condition across life's activities than did youth with higher PS-QL. Low PS-QL was associated with spending more than 1 hour per day using social networking sites and having used the Internet to find information on various health and substance use topics. Youth with lower PS-QL expressed more interest in messaging others, online forums, building personal profiles, and networking with other teens than did youth with higher PS-QL. Both those with high and low PS-QL preferred online to in-person support groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many youth with JA report low PS-QL and identify interest in Internet-based supportive interventions. The next generation of eHealth interventions for youth with JA, and possibly other chronic conditions, may better address their needs by recognizing the diversity of experiences and tailoring intervention strategies accordingly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Electronic address: krjohnso@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Kiana R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Division of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Keith J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Horvath
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*
keywords: E-health; Internet interventions; Juvenile arthritis; Juvenile rheumatic condition; Self-management