A Thematic Analysis of the “Ask the Doctor” Open Forum on the Tourette syndrome (UK) Association Website
Nevjeet Singh Bhagrath, Rickards Hugh
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
This study involved the auditing of a recently introduced “Ask the Doctor” open forum on the Tourette Syndrome Association website. Users of the website emailed a posting to a doctor about Tourette’s Syndrome, which was replied to and then the correspondence was put on the forum as open source for other people to view. This is a relatively new form of doctor patient interaction.
CONTEXT AND PURPOSE:
This is a thematic analysis of 358 queries posted to an Internet based forum, the “Ask the doctor forum” on the Tourette Syndrome Association website between October 31st 2001 and June 31st 2003, aimed at describing the varied content of the postings.
RESULTS:
The site was well used, with the postings being viewed a total of 24447 times. Most of the postings (70%) concerned children with Tourette syndrome (TS). Postings, 72% of which were made by females varied enormously, from being about the symptoms of TS to requesting treatment advice from the forum doctor. During times of media interest in TS, the site showed a significant increase in subsequent activity.
CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS:
Members of organisations representing other psychiatric disorders could benefit from having a facility such as this, which importantly reduces the feeling of isolation that comes with a stigmatising condition.
This study involved the auditing of a recently introduced “Ask the Doctor” open forum on the Tourette Syndrome Association website. Users of the website emailed a posting to a doctor about Tourette’s Syndrome, which was replied to and then the correspondence was put on the forum as open source for other people to view. This is a relatively new form of doctor patient interaction.
CONTEXT AND PURPOSE:
This is a thematic analysis of 358 queries posted to an Internet based forum, the “Ask the doctor forum” on the Tourette Syndrome Association website between October 31st 2001 and June 31st 2003, aimed at describing the varied content of the postings.
RESULTS:
The site was well used, with the postings being viewed a total of 24447 times. Most of the postings (70%) concerned children with Tourette syndrome (TS). Postings, 72% of which were made by females varied enormously, from being about the symptoms of TS to requesting treatment advice from the forum doctor. During times of media interest in TS, the site showed a significant increase in subsequent activity.
CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS:
Members of organisations representing other psychiatric disorders could benefit from having a facility such as this, which importantly reduces the feeling of isolation that comes with a stigmatising condition.
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