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Online self-help forums on cannabis: A content assessment.
Christian Greiner1, Anne Chatton2, Yasser Khazaal3
1Geneva University Hospitals, Gabriel-Perret-Gentil 4, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland; Geneva University, Général-Dufour 24, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
Patient Education and Counseling
|June 13, 2017
Summary
Online cannabis forums offer self-help and social support, primarily through user disclosure and symptom discussion. User involvement influences topics, with implications for clinical referrals to these digital communities.
Area of Science:
- Digital Health
- Online Communities
- Substance Use Research
Background:
- Internet-based self-help forums are increasingly utilized by individuals seeking support for various health concerns.
- Cannabis use is a prevalent issue, and users may seek information and peer support online.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the content and self-help mechanisms within online forums used by cannabis consumers.
- To understand the nature of online support sought by individuals using cannabis.
Main Methods:
- Content analysis of 717 postings from 328 users across three English-language, free, and registration-free online forums.
- Examination of fields of interest and self-help strategies employed by users.
Main Results:
- Disclosure and symptom discussion were the predominant self-help mechanisms, with less focus on legal or social aspects.
- User involvement correlated with specific topic engagement (e.g., diagnosis, research) and inversely with gratitude-related posts.
- Forums showed significant variation in content and mechanisms, except for social network and financial/vocational issues.
Conclusions:
- Cannabis user forums exhibit characteristics similar to other mental health support communities.
- Online platforms provide a valuable source of self-help and social support for cannabis users.
- Findings suggest potential clinical utility in guiding patients toward relevant online resources.
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