Social Capital and Knowledge Exchange in Hybrid Virtual Communities for Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Preliminary Results

This study investigates knowledge exchange in a Hybrid Virtual Communities (HVC) for patients with multiple sclerosis, that is a group of people with shared interests who meet face-to-face to exchange information or provide emotional support, but also coordinate or share information in a “virtual” or online environment Using discourse analysis and semi-structured interviews, I examine a face-to-face Multiple Sclerosis aquatics group and their virtual interactions. The investigation entails analysis of six months of e-mail dialogues between members and nineteen semi-structured interviews. Using the theoretical foundation of social capital (Jacobs 1960), network capital (Wellman and Frank, 2001) and a social support framework created by Drentea and Moren-Cross (2005), communications are classified as community building, emotional support, and instrumental support. The present research helps to explain the process of building and maintaining social support and exchanging knowledge in a patient-centric HVC.