Exploring Healthy Connection

Virtual social connection has become a way of life for many people. The continued implementation of new technologies in social interaction presents an ever-escalating need for researchers and practitioners to understand the implications of mediated interaction and virtual communities on human health and wellbeing. Accordingly, this chapter presents research on the salience of communication and social bonds in relation to human health and wellbeing, explores ways in which individual as well as relational health and wellbeing are affected by the use of social network sites, and argues a case for research on the health-related functions of expressive narratives in virtual settings such as online social networks. Considerations and future directions for research of these issues conclude this chapter.

Online Mindfulness Interventions

The current chapter systematically reviewed literature on online mindfulness interventions. Electronic databases were searched from 2005 to July 2016. The aim was to examine the nature of online mindfulness interventions, design features, and their effectiveness in improving symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. The review of selected studies shows that online delivery of mindfulness psycho-education and practice is an area in its infancy. There is evidence that online mindfulness interventions can have a positive impact on mental health in terms of stress, depression, and anxiety; however, large sample studies are needed in order to have conclusive results. Moreover, the extension of online mindfulness interventions beyond the individual level to include a community dimension, such as virtual community features, and a focus on the social determinants of health, needs to be explored in future. The online mindfulness intervention could be a cost-effective way to scale up the promotion of mental wellbeing.

Enablers and Facilitators for Sustainable Implementation of E-Services in Two-Sided Markets and Ecosystems

E-health innovations are globally described as one of the major driving forces to innovate health and social care because its potential contribution to improve quality, access to care, and to engage patients in decisions related to their own health and wellbeing .However, despite the increasing number of reports that indicate the potential savings and benefits that e-health services can bring to the sector, generic implementation of e-health services that contribute to develop and sustain new ways to deliver health and social care are not yet reported. In this chapter, we suggest enablers and facilitators for generic implementation of e-health services in two-sided markets as e-health.

Virtual Community Engagement to Advance Interoperability in Digital Health

This chapter will provide an overview of InfoCentral, a virtual community platform launched for advancing digital health information in Canada. Developed and hosted by Canada Health Infoway, InfoCentral has become a hub and resource for stakeholders in digital health to discuss, consider, and evaluate common challenges among digital health system compatibility across the country (i.e., interoperability). A synopsis of the role Infoway contributes toward advancing Canadian digital health, the background and considerations for InfoCentral, along with a series of three flourishing virtual community case studies will be examined. Critical success factors and lessons learned in establishing, supporting and growing productive virtual communities conclude this chapter.

Socialization or Social Isolation?

This research project specifically examines the experience of online community support groups as reported by users. The project began out of concern that healthcare providers in the Global North are directing people with mental health problems to online services, without seemingly understanding the impact that this may have on the individuals. The research findings will be of particular interest to mental health practitioners and service providers in the UK and elsewhere in the Global North, and aims to influence decisions made for policies around developing new online mental health services.

Effective Use of Virtual Communities for Health-Purposes in the Elderly

New strategies must be developed to adequately answer the growing health needs of the elderly. Virtual communities targeted to older adults may represent interesting tools, ranging from providing health-related information to operating preventive programs, or simply reducing social isolation and thus increasing the quality of life of the elderly. Besides generic issues shared with any eHealth virtual community (e.g., user engagement, participation, acceptance), the use of virtual communities by the elderly also bears some specific challenges, including limitations related to access to care or the presence of individuals with (age-related) disability. This Chapter describes some of the factors which should be taken into consideration when designing eHealth strategies aiming at developing or supporting virtual communities targeted to elderly population, and emphases the importance of integrating health-oriented senior-targeted virtual communities into holistic approach to allow for the communities to optimally develop and consolidate, and reach its goal in terms of health benefits.

Manage My Pain

This chapter describes the Manage My Pain digital pain management platform and its integration into the Transitional Pain Service at Toronto General Hospital. A collaboration between ManagingLife, the developer of Manage My Pain, and the Transitional Pain Service led to the creation of a patient-provider virtual community with the aim of managing complex pain after surgery so as to prevent the transition from acute post-surgical pain to chronic post-surgical pain. User engagement, motivation, and satisfaction are discussed with respect to the needs of (1) people living with pain and (2) health care providers. Challenges in implementation are described, along with new features developed for the digital platform as a result of the partnership between ManagingLife and the Transitional Pain Service.

Cancer Virtual Communities in the Era of Personalized Medicine

Cancer is the most common chronic disease worldwide. Cancer patients report significant unmet supportive care needs. Peer support groups show great promise in meeting cancer patients' supportive care needs, and are considered an important complement to the formal health care system. Virtual communities offer a convenient way for cancer patients to collaborative meet many of their supportive care needs in a timely way. This chapter will present current evidence on: the scope and characteristics of virtual communities for cancer patients; prevalence and predictors of use and reasons for non-use; the nature and function of supportive exchanges in cancer virtual communities, including their limitations; and the potential effects, both positive and negative, of participating in cancer virtual communities on health outcomes. Grounded in social support, technology adoption and health behavior theory, this chapter will offer a multi-theory framework for better understanding for how cancer virtual communities work and under what conditions.