Communicating the experience of chronic pain and illness through blogging.

Background: Although more individuals are sharing their experiences with chronic pain or illness through blogging (writing an Internet web log), research on the psychosocial effects and motivating factors for initiating and maintaining a blog is lacking.

Objective: The objective was to examine via online questionnaire the perceived psychosocial and health benefits of blogging among patients who use this media to communicate their experience of chronic pain or illness.

Methods: A 34-item online questionnaire was created, tested, and promoted through online health/disease forums.