Word of mouth

Sociology

Business

Value (mathematics)

Knowledge management

Internet privacy

World Wide Web

Machine learning

Marketing

Political science

Psychology

Health care

Anthropology

Public relations

Computer science

Social media

Health information

Exploratory research

Journal of Consumer Health on the Internet

Drawing on an exploratory study involving 15 semi-structured in-depth interviews with individuals who have chronic health conditions, this study investigates their experiences searching for information on local resources to manage their health more effectively. The findings revealed important benefits and challenges of the various strategies these individuals use to find local resources, which include word of mouth communication through informal social networks, online exploratory searches, and social media use. This study also assesses the potential uptake, design, and implementation of an online health information system that would allow these individuals to crowdsource information on local resources in their communities.

Assessing the Value of an Online Repository of Local Resources for People Who Have Chronic Health Conditions