Table 1.
Characteristics of the included studies
| Citation | Population/ Setting (n, % Female) |
Duration of Follow-up (% dropout) |
Intervention | Comparison Treatment |
Outcome Measure(s) (Instrument) |
Quality Assessment Score |
| Cousineau et al 2008 [51] | Online psycho-educational support for infertile women (190, 100%) | 4 weeks (3%) | Tailored website containing in vitro fertilization (IVF)-specific cognitive behavioural skill training (CBT) and stress management. Total content: 90 minutes, available over a 4-week periodb,c,e | Waiting list | Self-efficacy, infertility specific (Infertility Self-Efficacy Scale [51]). | 26, Excellent |
| Gollings et al 2005 [52] | Treatment of body dissatisfaction among women 18 to 30 years old (39, 100%) | 8 weeks (18%) | The Set Your Body Free Group Body Image Program: eight therapist-led, online chat sessions (weekly, session duration: 90 minutes), 24/7 discussion boarda | Face-to-face delivery of the same intervention | Self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale [RSE] [67]) | 16, Fair |
| Hill et al 2006 [53] | Increasing psychological health among chronically ill, rural women(12, 100%) | 12 weeks (17%) | Women-to-Women (WTW) project: an online web-based educational tool aimed at increasing Web skills, coping with chronic illness, handling family finances, etca,b | No care | (1) Empowerment (adapted Diabetes Empowerment Scale [DES] [63]) (2) General self-efficacy (General Self-Efficacy [GSE] [65]) (3) Self-esteem (RSE [67]) | 17, Fair |
| Hirai and Clum 2005 [54] | Internet help for patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (36, 78%) | 8 weeks (25%) | Internet-based, interactive cognitive behaviour program (8 weeks) consisting of relaxation training, mastery tests, cognitive restructuring and exposure modulesc | Waiting list | Self-efficacy, post-traumatic syndrome specific (adapted scale) | 15, Fair |
| Homko et al 2007 [55] | Managing underserved women with gestational diabetes mellitus in a prenatal clinic (63, 100%) | From 4 to 37 weeks, depending on gestation at inclusion (10%) | Web-based disease management interactive telemedicine system. Components: health information and education, patient electronic medical record, and communication with health teama,b,d | Paper logbook | Empowerment (DES [63]) | 18, Fair |
| Lorig et al 2002 [56] | Internet help for back pain patients (580, 39%) | 1 year (27%) | Closed and moderated email discussion group, copy of the Back Pain Helpbook, and a videotape on how to continue active life with back paina | Usual care | Self-efficacy, specific to management of back pain (adapted scale) | 20, Good |
| Lorig et al 2006 [57] | Internet help for patients with chronic diseases (heart or lung disease and type 2 diabetes) (958, 71%) | 1 year (19%) | Interactive website (6-week program) based on the book Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions. Online workshops with Web moderator, individual exercise programs, cognitive symptom management etca,b,c | Usual care | Self-efficacy, disease management specific (adapted scale) | 20, Good |
| Lorig et al 2008 [58] | Internet-based arthritis self-management program for patients with fibromyalgia (855, 90%) | 6 months (25%) | Arthritis Self-Management (6-week) Program: health education, bulletin board discussion, individual tools such as exercise logs, medication diaries, and a tailored exercise program a,b,c,d,e | Usual care | Self-efficacy, arthritis specific (adapted scale) |
22, Good |
| Man et al 2006 [44] | Problem-solving skill training for people with acquired brain injury (ABI) (59, 43%) | 8 weeks (24%) | Online interactive multimedia presentations on knowledge and concepts required for persons with ABI to function independently c | Waiting list | Self-efficacy, ABI specific (adapted scale) | 21, Good |
| Nguyen et al 2008 [59] | Internet-based dyspnea self-management program for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (50, 44%) | 6 months (22%) | Website containing structured education for dyspnea management strategies, skills training, peer interaction, symptom and exercise monitoring, and exercise consultations (6- month program)a,b,c,d | Face-to-face delivery of the same intervention | Mastery, subscale of the Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire (CRQ [59]) | 20, Good |
| Ross et al 2004 [60] | Web-based online medical record for patients with congestive heart failure in a speciality clinic (107, 23%) | 6 months (22%) | SPPARO web interface, providing patients with a medical record, educational guide and a messaging systema,b,d | Usual care | Self-efficacy, patient specific (adapted scale) |
23, Good |
| Tuil et al 2007 [61] | Internet-based personal health record for patients undergoing IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment in an academic research environment (244, 50%) |
16 weeks (26%) | IVF educational interactive website consisting of general information, a personal medical record with tailored clarifications, and communication (forum, email, chat)a,b,d,e | Usual care | (1) General self-efficacy (GES [64]) (2) Self-efficacy, IVF specific (adapted scale) | 18, Fair |
| Warmerdam et al 2009 [50] | Internet treatment for adults with depressive symptoms (263, 71%) | Intervention 1:12 weeks (46%) Intervention 2: 5 weeks (42%) | Intervention 1: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (12 weeks) based on changing patients’ cognitive patternsc Intervention 2: Problem-Solving Treatment (5 weeks) aiming at controlling practical problems patients facec | Waiting list | Mastery (Pearlin Mastery Scale [66]) | 23, Good |
| Zutz et al 2007 [62] | Website for potential participants for hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation programs (15, 20%) | 12 weeks (13%) | Website with the ability to interactively monitor heart rate and blood pressure. Plus scheduled one-on-one chat sessions with program nurse case manager, weekly education sessions and monthly ask-an-expert group chata,b,d | Usual care | (1) General Self-efficacy (GSE [65]) (2) Self-efficacy; exercise specific (adapted scale) | 15, Fair |
Web-based intervention contains:
a communication options, such as a forum, chat or (moderated) discussion board
b health information to increase knowledge
c disease specific self-management modules
d e-monitoring, such as a patient medical records or symptom diaries
e tailored messages or information