Health Care Virtual Communities

Abstract

Virtual Communities (VCs) emerged in the beginning of the 1990’s due to the proliferation of the World Wide Web. Researchers explored the potentials of virtual communities in health and created different types of Health VCs. There is growing evidence that health virtual communities can empower patients with knowledge, facilitate health information dissemination, and provide social and psychological support. Although Health VCs present several advantages, many challenges are still ahead and opportunities as well. This chapter will provide an overview of non-mobile and mobile VCs; it will then provide an overview of Health VCs research and applications as well as their advantages and challenges. The chapter ends with an outline of the main future opportunities and perspectives in Health VCs.