COMPUTER 20 COVER FE ATURE

This interest is not undeserved. Healthcare social networks provide an active platform for sharing ideas, dis-cussing symptoms, and debating treatment options—tasks that together promise to improve patient care. But these networks also raise concerns: Is participatory medicine a benefit or a danger? What about loss of privacy or inac-curate information? What do social networks offer that traditional healthcare resources cannot provide? Answers to these questions will determine how to use technology to its best advantage in improving healthcare. USER MOTIVATION Health issues are a primary concern for most people. In January 2009, the Health Engagement Barometer2 pub-lished the results of a survey asking US citizens to report their involvement in health issues. The survey reveale