On-line discussion boards: impact on caregiver reports of satisfaction, support and decision making in health care.

Informatics initiatives, including on-line discussion boards, increase the accessibility of health care information and may strengthen patient and caregiver levels of satisfaction with health care. In 2005, 95% of the living organ donors in the U.S. were living kidney donors. Care of the donor frequently falls to the spouse/companion and has been reported as extremely stressful. The proposed study seeks to better prepare the caregiver through the use of online information- discussion board interaction.