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ABSTRACT
Online support groups exist for a multitude of health conditions. Group participants tend to have unmet needs for emotional or psychological support, socialization, information, or validation. There are advantages to online support communities that cannot be found in face-to-face groups, but there are numerous disadvantages as well. This article reviews the motivations for participating in an online support group, lists the pros and cons of online communities, and offers a glimpse into experiences of a few group participants.
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Notes on contributors
Jill A. Turner
Jill A. Turner, BSN, MLIS ([email protected]) is Associate Librarian, Reference Department, School of Dentistry, University of Detroit Mercy, 2800 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Detroit, MI 48208, USA.