Salter, AnastasiaPoliseo, Stacy J.2016-12-202016-12-202012-05Poliseo_baltimore_0942N_10040UB_2012_Poliseo_Shttp://hdl.handle.net/11603/3735M.S. -- University of Baltimore, 2012Thesis submitted to the School of Information Arts and Technologies at the University of Baltimore in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Information Design and Information Architecture.The range of health information available to consumers today has the ability to empower patients to take control of their health care and improve patient-physician relations. User-generated content and the existence of patient communities is changing the way individuals are able to interact with health information and connect with others experiencing similar diagnosis. This study looks at how individuals are searching for health information and what the potential impact the information they encounter has on their health decisions. It also recommends components and wireframes for an online community that can enable healthcare organizations and medical professionals to provide a better patient experience.84 leavesapplication/pdfen-USThis item may be protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. It is made available by the University of Baltimore for non-commercial research and educational purposes.health 2.0health informationonline communitiespatient communitiessocial mediauser-generated contentHealthInformation servicesCommunication in medicinePatient participationWeb 2.0Social mediaText