The Role of Online Support Groups in Helping Individuals Affected by HIV and AIDS: Scoping Review of the Literature.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Online support groups provide opportunities for individuals affected by HIV and AIDS to seek information, advice, and support from peers. However, whether and how engagement with online support groups helps individuals affected by HIV and AIDS remains unclear, as does the nature of the evidence on this topic.

Objective

This scoping review sought to explore whether engagement with HIV and AIDS-related online support groups benefits members in terms of psychosocial well-being and illness management, whether members experienced any negative aspects of these groups, and what types of social support are exchanged within HIV and AIDS-related online support groups.

Methods

A scoping review of English-language articles (including both qualitative and quantitative s

SUBMITTER: Coulson NS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9364165 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature