MARKETING ONLINE EDUCATION PROGRAMS: FRAMEWORKS FOR PROMOTION AND COMMUNICATION, pp.210-221, 2011 (SSCI)
Like in all areas, virtual communities make their presence felt in the area of healthcare. Virtual communities play an important role in healthcare in terms of gathering information on healthcare, sharing of personal interests, and providing social support. Virtual communities provide a way for a group of peers to communicate with each other. In the health context, they may also be referred to as electronic support groups. They include forums, discussion boards on websites, mailing lists, chat rooms, or newsgroups.