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BackgroundOnline health communities (OHCs) provide social support for ongoing health-related problems. COVID-19, the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, has been an acute and substantial stressor worldwide. The disease and its impact, especially in the beginning phases, left many people with questions about the nature, treatment, and prevention of COVID-19. Unlike typical chronic ailments discussed on OHCs, which are more established, COVID-19, at least at the onset of the pandemic, is distinct in that it lacks a consensus of clinical diagnosis and an existing community foundation. ObjectiveThe study aims to investigate a newly formed OHC for COVID-19 to determine the topics and types of information exchange as well as the sources of information this community referenced during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. MethodsA total of 357 posts from a COVID-19 OHC on the MedHelp platform were annotated according to an open-coding process. Participants’ engagement patterns, topics of posts, and sources of information were quantified. ResultsParticipants who offered informational support had a significantly higher percentage of responding more than once than those seeking information (P |
