Outcomes measured by social media tool
| Outcomes | Total—n (%) | Excluding discussion forums—n (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Total—N | 284 | 95 |
| Patients’ knowledge | ||
| Conditions and complications | 54 (19.0) | 22 (23.2) |
| Self-care | 60 (21.1) | 17 (17.9) |
| Treatment options | 22 (7.8) | 10 (10.5) |
| Comprehension | 2 (0.7) | 1 (1.1) |
| Patients’ experience | ||
| Satisfaction | 69 (24.3) | 21 (22.1) |
| Clinician–patient communication | 39 (13.7) | 16 (16.8) |
| Peer-to-peer communication | 135 (47.5) | 44 (46.3) |
| Quality of life | 20 (7.0) | 2 (2.1) |
| Psychological well-being | 78 (27.5) | 21 (22.1) |
| Self-efficacy | 32 (11.3) | 4 (4.2) |
| Involvement and empowerment | 22 (7.8) | 6 (6.3) |
| Use of services and costs | ||
| Hospital admission rates | 4 (1.4) | 2 (2.1) |
| Emergency admission rates | 2 (0.7) | – |
| Number of visits to general practitioners | 7 (2.5) | 2 (2.1) |
| Cost effectiveness | 4 (1.4) | 3 (3.2) |
| Health behaviour and status | ||
| Self-care activities | 63 (22.2) | 15 (15.8) |
| Treatment adherence | 13 (4.6) | 1 (1.1) |
| Severity of disease or symptoms | 17 (6.0) | 4 (4.2) |
| Physical functioning | 21 (7.4) | 6 (6.3) |
| Mental functioning | 25 (8.8) | 8 (8.4) |
| Clinical indicators | 23 (8.1) | 3 (3.2) |
| Others | ||
| Attitudes and preferences | 14 (4.9) | 7 (7.4) |
| Content and accuracy | 33 (11.6) | 21 (22.1) |
| Usability | 9 (3.2) | 2 (2.1) |
| Usage and demographics | 106 (37.3) | 34 (35.8) |
Percentages do not add up to 100 due to the possibility of multiple outcomes per study.