Table 1

The experiential health information processing model

Kolb model for experiential learning

Steps in patient experience

1. Concrete experience: an event

The diagnosis of an illness, presentation of treatment options or other decisions related to care creates a need for information.

2. Observations and reflections: thinking about the event and its impact

By entering an online community an individual observes by reading the messages and reflects about their own experience in relation to the information shared.

3. Formation of abstract concepts and generalizations: what was learned

Inquiry through posted messages is made regarding a patient's next steps or treatment decisions related to their care from other community members.

4. Testing implications of concepts in new situations: active experimentation

By using knowledge acquired from the group the patient proceeds to a treatment decision.

O'Grady et al. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making 2008 8:58   doi:10.1186/1472-6947-8-58