In this section the results of the student questionnaires, the use of discussion boards, and the assessment data are first discussed.
Research on the use of discussion boards as a resource was conducted from 2008 to 2011 (Gregory 2015).
The research focus in this paper dealt with students learning online through the use of discussion boards, wikis and 3D virtual worlds.
But there are also problems related to the use of discussion forums in Internet-based treatments.
Two case studies [ 28, 29] found significant improvements in knowledge acquisition (measured by students' final marks) through the use of discussion boards.
The social media tools studied are outlined in table 3. The use of discussion boards and online support groups (combined as discussion forums due to their common structure and intent) dominated the literature, encompassing 189 (66.6%) included studies.
Three studies investigated feedback related to the use of discussion boards [ 30, 39, 41]; all combined analysis of discussion boards with other technologies such as chat, website, or e-diary.
Of the first 100 websites listed in the search results, 78 were primarily focused on the sale of kratom, while 22 were focused on disseminating information about kratom through the use of discussion boards [ 5].
Two studies conducted in populations with chronic health conditions evaluated Zora, a virtual world [ 16, 17], and the remaining eight studies investigated the use of discussion forums (Table 2) [ 13- 15, 18- 22].
Similarly, 91% of physicians who reported not having discussions indicated they are more likely to screen patients with a family history of prostate cancer, compared to 46% of those who reported the use of discussion (Chi-square(1) = 13.27, p <.001).
