| Online health consultation is defined as a tool that allows patients to query, interact and communicate online synchronously or asynchronously with health specialists. Using this tool, patients can seek information, second opinions and support regarding their diseases, conditions, and their treatment options to reduce the uncertainty, meet their information needs, and enhance participation in their decision making process.;This dissertation began by proposing a framework of the online health consultation based on various concepts regarding medical information seeking, treatment decision making, health consultation, and online health services to conceptualize the research model of this online communication tool. The intervention of the Ask an Expert tool, which is a Web-based message system that allows patients to ask questions about their health and get a personal answer from a medical expert, offered a rich representation of online health consultation. This data included the messages submitted from 231 women with breast cancer who accessed this service for 16 weeks. The data collected measured the content of the participants' use of the Ask an Expert tool and examined relationships with the outcomes.;The main purpose of this study was to conduct a content analysis to quantify the content of the messages that patients submitted through using the Ask an Expert tool. The study aimed to measure the participants' use activity as well as to categorize their intentions and concerns in general, in an attempt to analyze the use behavior associated with outcomes and reveal the possible benefits or risks resulting from use of this communication tool.;In conclusion, the results indicated that patients primarily intend to seek second opinions, with their disease being their primary concern. The results also indicated that patients benefited in the dimensions of Information Seeking, Social Support, Participation in Health Care, Decision Making, and Doctor-Patient Relationship through using the online health consultation service. This study not only provides a conceptual model and better understanding of the online health consultation, but also provides a direction for developing an effective Web-based medical communication system. |
