Vennik, Femke D., et al. "Expert and experiential knowledge in the same place: Patients’ experiences with online communities connecting patients and health professionals." Patient education and counseling 95.2 (2014): 265-270.

This study explores patient experiences within online health communities where both doctors and patients participate, known as patient-to-doctor (P2D) communities. Through qualitative content analysis of observations in five P2D communities and interviews with 17 patients, it finds that patients value the dual sources of information - one from physicians providing reliable, evidence-based insights, and the other from peers offering experience-based knowledge. Patients utilize these communities for various purposes including gathering scientific research and engaging in personal reflection. The presence of physicians in these communities implies a level of information quality control, suggesting the need for clear disclaimers about the non-verification of information and the importance of consulting personal physicians.