Risks and Benefits of Web-Based Patient Narratives: Systematic Review.

Area of Science:

• Health communication
• Digital health
• Patient engagement

Background:

• Web-based patient narratives are increasingly prevalent online and in social media.
• These narratives serve as decision aids and information sources for patients and healthcare providers.
• The potential impact of patient stories on healthcare outcomes warrants quantitative investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the quantifiable risks and benefits of research-generated Web-based patient narratives.
• To assess the impact on patients, relatives, and healthcare professionals.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of scientific databases (MEDLINE, PsycInfo, etc.) was conducted from August 2017 to March 2019.
• Included studies were quantitative, focusing on Web-based patient narratives generated through scientific methods.
• Study quality was assessed using a validated checklist by two independent reviewers.

Main Results:

• Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria, investigating 10 different narrative sources.
• Positive effects were identified across categories: providing information, engagement, behavior modeling, and comfort.
• Negative effects were noted in the 'persuade' category; some reported effects were small or context-dependent.

Conclusions:

• Web-based patient narratives show promise for improving understanding, providing emotional support, and influencing behavior.
• Limited evidence supports beneficial effects, but heterogeneity in narratives and outcomes complicates overall judgment.
• Quantifying the impact of these narratives is challenging, necessitating future research on optimal quantitative methodologies.