The role of online support groups in empowering people with type 2 diabetes

Online health support groups and forums provide the opportunity for patients to share information, knowledge and experiences and through this becomes more empowered. Empowering patients has been a desirable goal for multiple health organisations around the globe: it enables patients to gain greater control over their health and, as a result, achieve better health outcomes. Since patients are more aware about their health status and daily activities, they are more realistic in setting health goals and determining about best ways to achieve them. This is especially important in chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, where patients make decisions that affect their illness on a daily basis. In order to be empowered, patients need to understand their roles and be knowledgeable about their illnesses and its consequence. Online support groups can provide different types of support for patients which helps them to better understand their illness, compare their health situation and progress to other peers and break their isolation by communicating other patients who have the same illness. The study primarily seeks to answer questions regarding the role that online support groups play in empowering people with Type 2 diabetes and shifting the focus of healthcare from doctor-centred to patient-centred care.