The Rise of Health 2.0 and the Impact of User-Generated Content on Pursuing Treatment Options

The range of health information available to consumers today has the ability to empower patients to take control of their health care and improve patient-physician relations. User-generated content and the existence of patient communities is changing the way individuals are able to interact with health information and connect with others experiencing similar diagnosis. This study looks at how individuals are searching for health information and what the potential impact the information they encounter has on their health decisions. It also recommends components and wireframes for an online community that can enable healthcare organizations and medical professionals to provide a better patient experience.