Designing and evaluating online communities for promoting self-management of chronic low back pain
International Journal of Web-Based Communities.
Autori: Sara Rubinelli, Peter J. Schulz, Fausto Vago
Tipo di pubblicazione: Articolo


The aim of this paper is to discuss the organization of a virtual community composed of health professionals and patients affected by chronic low back pain. The community was created as part of a pilot study for promoting self-management of chronic low back pain. The paper deals with the theoretical framework behind the development of the community, as well as with the way health professionals and patients interact on a website specifically designed for the project. In the last part of the paper, data collected from an intermediate online questionnaire point to the validity of the study, alongside revealing crucial implications for further applications in the field.