The health impact of an online heart disease The health impact of an online heart disease supportsupport

group: a comparison of moderated versus ungroup: a comparison of moderated versus unmoderatedmoderated

supportsupport

Health education research 2009Health education research 2009Sally Lindsay, Simon Smith, Paul Bellaby and Rose Sally Lindsay, Simon Smith, Paul Bellaby and Rose

BakerBaker

introductionintroduction

Online interventions for CHD have found thOnline interventions for CHD have found that they help to increase social support, decreat they help to increase social support, decrease anxiety… ase anxiety…

Notable limitation:Notable limitation:People who already have home computers aPeople who already have home computers and the skills to use them.nd the skills to use them.

The impact of moderated support groups on The impact of moderated support groups on health remains unclear.health remains unclear.

methodmethod The sample was divided at random into an expeThe sample was divided at random into an expe

rimental (n = 54) and a control group (n = 54) of rimental (n = 54) and a control group (n = 54) of equal sizes.equal sizes.

First 6 months : moderated First 6 months : moderated Remainder 3 months: Remainder 3 months: unmoderatedunmoderated

Measurements were made using paper and penMeasurements were made using paper and pencil questionnaires at the beginning of the projeccil questionnaires at the beginning of the project, at 6 and 9 months.t, at 6 and 9 months.

resultresult Message writing to moderators decreased from tMessage writing to moderators decreased from t

he moderated to the unmodrated phase by 23% he moderated to the unmodrated phase by 23% while message writing between participants incrwhile message writing between participants increased by 50% between moderated and unmodereased by 50% between moderated and unmoderated phases.ated phases.

A significant difference in diet between groups.A significant difference in diet between groups.

discussiondiscussion When participants were left to navigate the webWhen participants were left to navigate the web

site and the World Wide Web by themselves, thsite and the World Wide Web by themselves, they may have felt discouraged which could have ey may have felt discouraged which could have hindered their motivation and self confidence.hindered their motivation and self confidence.

Having a moderator in an online support group Having a moderator in an online support group may play an important role in changing and mamay play an important role in changing and maintaining healthy behaviors.intaining healthy behaviors.

It is also important to have an exit strategy in plIt is also important to have an exit strategy in place to smooth the transfer of moderating respoace to smooth the transfer of moderating responsibilities to participants or a third partynsibilities to participants or a third party