Allen, Chris, et al. "Long-term condition self-management support in online communities: a meta-synthesis of qualitative papers." Journal of medical Internet research 18.3 (2016): e61.

This study explores how patient online communities assist in the self-management of long-term conditions by creating social ties and mobilizing an online illness "workforce." Through a systematic review of 21 qualitative studies, key themes were identified, including the compensation for offline information deficits, learning from others, engagement validation, community building, narrative expression, and the role of anonymity. The synthesis reveals that these communities offer collective knowledge, support through gifting relationships, sociability beyond illness, and use online disinhibition to facilitate self-management support. These findings underscore the value of online groups in providing comprehensive illness and emotional support, particularly benefiting individuals with limited offline support, by leveraging the communal sharing of experiences and resources.