Consumers’ perceptions of social support features on diabetes Facebook groups and its effects on their behaviour change: A qualitative study

Diabetes is one of the chronic diseases that affect world’s population. Diabetic Facebook Groups (DFGs) have been contributed as one of the social media to communicate among diabetes sufferers. Social Support Features on Facebook “Informational support,” “Emotional support,” “Instrumental support,” and “Belonging support” identified as an essential element which contribute to understand its role on Facebook. The main purpose of this study is to gain an in-depth understanding of the diabetic patient's perceptions of social support features on Facebook and its effect on behaviour change. A qualitative study was conducted with diabetes consumers from the DFGs through semi-structured interviews. Twelve diabetics consumers were participated. Eleven themes have been showed from this study: Informational support, Emotional Support, Belonging Support, Instrumental Support, Ease of Use, Usefulness, and Awareness. Thematic analysis results show that the DFGs have played a vital role in changing diabetic patient behaviour in their eating and practising lifestyle.