Weiss, Jacob B., et al. "Recommendations for the design, implementation and evaluation of social support in online communities, networks, and groups." Journal of biomedical informatics 46.6 (2013): 970-976.

This paper presents a new paradigm in health care, focusing on the empowerment of individuals through their participation in online communities and social networks for health-related support. Leveraging Web 2.0 technologies, it extends the scope of online support groups to include a wider range of support types, including informational, emotional, and community-based support. The study advocates for the adoption of inclusive conceptual frameworks for social support and community-based research methodologies in patient-centered care. It introduces a conceptualization of online social support, highlights current research challenges, and proposes six recommendations for designing, evaluating, and implementing social support within online platforms. These recommendations are exemplified by CanConnect, an online community for cancer survivors in Middle Tennessee, showcasing the integration of online and real-world support through an inclusive support framework. The paper underscores the significance of these recommendations by discussing their application in supporting cancer survivors online.