Can Social Networking Services Improve the Quality of Life of Patients?

Abstract

 ［Background］ Social network sites for disease survivors are attracting the attention of many patients for sharing experiences and supporting each other on-line. However, such effects are not verified scientifically. This study examines and compares the patients who are actively involving with a patient SNS, Lifepalette, and who are not quite actively involved, and sees the change of their Quality of Life at 2 different points (on July, 2014 and March, 2015). ［Materials & Methods］ We have divided the Lifepalette users into 2 groups: the Expert Patients (the active members) and the General Patients (the non-active members). ［Results］ Expert Patients showed significantly low Social QOL than the General Patients, but the General Patients' score decreased significantly. Whereas the Expert Patients' Social QOL, however, slightly increased at the second measurement, and eventually, the Expert and General Patients did not show the significant difference in the Social QOL. ［Discussion］ The patients with low Social QOL have become the Expert Patients. The registered patients should be actively involved in the SNSs' activities, such as posting articles, to receive the benefit of maintaining their QOL level.