This qualitative systematic review investigated how individuals with chronic illness experience online peer-to-peer support and how their experiences influence daily life with illness. Selected studies were appraised by quality criteria focused upon research questions and study design, participant selection, methods of data collection, and methods of analysis. Four themes were identified: (a) illness-associated identity work, (b) social support and connectivity, (c) experiential knowledge sharing, and (d) collective voice and mobilization. Findings indicate that online peer-to-peer communities provide a supportive space for daily self-care related to chronic illness. Online communities provided a valued space to strengthen social ties and exchange knowledge that supported offline ties and patient-doctor relationships. Individuals used online communities to exchange experiential knowledge about everyday life with illness. This type of knowledge was perceived as extending far beyond medical care. Online communities were also used to mobilize and raise collective awareness about illness-specific concerns.

Background Patient-driven initiatives have made uptake of Do-it-Yourself Artificial Pancreas Systems (DIYAPS) increasingly popular among people with diabetes of all ages. Observational studies have shown improvements in glycemic control and quality of life among adults with diabetes. However, there is a lack of research examining outcomes of children and adolescents with DIYAPS in everyday life and their social context. Objective This survey assesses the self-reported clinical outcomes of a pediatric population using DIYAPS in the real world. Methods An online survey was distributed to caregivers to assess the hemoglobin A1c levels and time in range (TIR) before and after DIYAPS initiation and problems during DIYAPS use. Results A total of 209 caregivers of children from 21 countries responded to the survey. Of the children, 47.4% were female, with a median age of 10 years, and 99.4% had type 1 diabetes, with a median duration of 4.3 years (SD 3.9). The median duration of DIYAPS use was 7.5 (SD 10.0) months. Clinical outcomes improved significantly, including the hemoglobin A1c levels (from 6.91% [SD 0.88%] to 6.27% [SD 0.67]; P<.001) and TIR (from 64.2% [SD 15.94] to 80.68% [SD 9.26]; P<.001). Conclusions Improved glycemic outcomes were found across all pediatric age groups, including adolescents and very young children. These findings are in line with clinical trial results from commercially developed closed-loop systems.

While most research in the area of human-information behavior has focused on a single dimension-either the psychological or the social-this case study demonstrated the importance of a multidimensional approach. The Cognitive Work Analysis framework guided this field study of one event of collaborative information retrieval (CIR) carried out by design engineers at Microsoft, including observations and interviews. Various dimensions explained the motives for this CIR event and the challenges the participants encountered: the cognitive dimension, the specific task and decision, the organization of the teamwork, and the organizational culture. Even though it is difficult at times to separate one dimension from another, and all are interdependent, the analysis uncovered several reasons for design engineers to engage in CIR, such as when they are new to the organization or the team, when the information lends itself to various interpretations, or when most of the needed information is not documented. Similar multidimensional studies will enhance our understanding of human-information behavior.The last two decades have seen an increased interest in the study of human-information behavior. In addition to a rise in the number of user studies, the field has experienced a growth in theoretical development that has introduced new conceptual frameworks and expanded on existing ones (Pettigrew, Fidel, & Bruce, 2001). Various objectives have directed conceptual research in information behavior. Parts of it aimed at developing theories and concepts that would guide research in this area (e.g., Bates, 1989;Ellis, 1989;Pettigrew, 2000;Wilson, 1999), and other parts tested whether theories borrowed from other fields can bring new insights (e.g., Chatman, 2000;Kuhlthau, 1991;Tuominen & Savolainen, 1997). Of central interest, however, has been a more specific question: what factors-or variables-should be considered when studying information behavior?To answer this question, some investigators tested whether or not certain factors affected information behavior, while others contemplated which factors played a role. In contrast, very few studies were carried out without specific variables in mind, but seeking rather to uncover which factors played a role in real-life situations. We present here a multidimensional approach for such studies, and illustrate its utilization through an example: a case study of collaborative information retrieval. The study employed a naturalistic approach and focused on several dimensions simultaneously, rather than on isolated factors or variables. It pointed to a variety of factors that influenced the information behavior of the users involved. While the results of this single case cannot be automatically generalized to other contexts, the study demonstrated that these factors belong to various dimensions. Moreover, these dimensions interacted with one another. Therefore, ignoring any one of them when analyzing human-information interactions would prevent investigators from fully understanding the phenom...

Flow (a state of consciousness where people become totally immersed in an activity and enjoy it intensely) has been identified as a desirable state with positive effects for employee well-being and innovation at work. Flow has been studied using both questionnaires and Experience Sampling Method (ESM). In this study, we used a newly developed 9-item flow scale in an ESM study combined with a questionnaire to examine the predictors of flow at two levels: the activities (brainstorming, planning, problem solving and evaluation) associated with transient flow states and the more stable job characteristics (role clarity, influence and cognitive demands). Participants were 58 line managers from two companies in Denmark; a private accountancy firm and a public elder care organization. We found that line managers in elder care experienced flow more often than accountancy line managers, and activities such as planning, problem solving, and evaluation predicted transient flow states. The more stable job characteristics included in this study were not, however, found to predict flow at work.

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