Reasons for Using Schizophrenia Internet Forums in Croatia

Abstract

Searching the Internet is one of the main sources for obtaining health and medical information. When searching the Internet, users can find information published by various organizations, companies, agencies or institutions and also information posted by users on the user-oriented Internet platforms, such as forums, blogs, and various social networks. There are no single, standardized mechanisms to ensure the truthfulness, objectivity, credibility and comprehensibility of health information available on the Internet. Moreover, a very small proportion of medical content on the Internet is revised or moderated by health experts. The aim of this study was to examine the motives for using schizophrenia Internet forums in Croatia. The study sample consists of user-generated posts on the largest Croatian schizophrenia Internet sub-forum over a period of one year, analyzed using qualitative methodology–grounded theory. The results showed that the majority of users use schizophrenia Internet forums to receive emotional support from others with the same diagnosis. Other important reasons were to exchange information about medications, symptoms and prognosis of the illness. It was noted that a large number of entries, with information about drugs and symptoms of the illness, contain inaccurate information. Posts about treatment and symptoms of schizophrenia provided by Internet forums often contain unverified information and can potentially harm users of such forums and also undermine doctor-patient relationship. Expert moderation of these forums and better education of patients by their physician, could help patients receive better medical care and to strengthen the confidence of patients in their physicians.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.