title: User-driven conversations about dialysis through Facebook: A qualitative thematic analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  As one of the most popular social networking sites in the world, Facebook has strong potential to enable peer support and the user-driven sharing of health information. We carried out a qualitative thematic analysis of the wall posts of a public Facebook group focused on dialysis to identify some of the major themes discussed.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched Facebook using the word 'dialysis'. A Facebook group (Dialysis Discussion Uncensored) with the highest number of members was selected amongst publicly available forums related to dialysis and operated in English (http://www.facebook.com/groups/DialysisUncensored). Two researchers independently extracted information on features of the group including purpose, group members and the user-generated posts on the group wall. Posts were further analysed to develop major themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Characteristics of a Facebook group based on its participants and activities are presented. Three themes are described with representative quotations. In a period of 2 weeks, we found 1257 wall posts with total of 31 636 likes and 15 972 comments. All messages were in English, and the majority of the participants were dialysis patients. However, we observed the participation of family members and care providers as well. Posts were categorized into three major themes: sharing information, seeking and providing emotional and social support and sharing experience.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings of this study provide an example of how a social networking platform can enable patients and their families to share information and to encourage peer-based support for managing dialysis-related experiences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Salim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Rebecca J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Haines-Saah
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Arfan R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Afzal
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tam-Tham
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, General Directorate of Health Affairs in Tabuk Region, Ministry of Health, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al Mamun
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Brenda R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Hemmelgarn
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.|Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Tanvir C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Turin
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004644:Emotions; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005195:Family Relations; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010379:Peer Group; D036301:Qualitative Research; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D060756:Social Networking; D012944:Social Support
keywords: Facebook; dialysis; qualitative study; thematic analysis; user-driven communication