Examining online chat within a domain of uncertainty: the case of Asperger's syndrome.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether grounded theory can be applied as a cross-disciplinary evaluative framework for assessing health information, especially within domain-specific peer-to-peer networks.

METHODS

Using a grounded-theory approach, we seek to identify recurring themes of peer-based interaction, without the ongoing management of clinical experts, as a way to determine stakeholder concerns and interests in a domain of frequent clinical uncertainty and treatment, Asperger's syndrome.

RESULTS

We find that users of web-based information in such areas often report reliance on information for medical decision making and disease management, at times to the point where interaction becomes a form of 'cybertherapy.' Further, such groups often evolve into disease-specific, 'virtual support groups', even where discussions highlight a lack of consensus regarding the role, function and quality of information within this unique domain.

CONCLUSION

A grounded theory approach can successfully be applied in a domain-specific setting to identify themes in unstructured peer-to-peer discussion of ill-defined diseases and treatments.