Dannecker, AchimLechner, Ulrike2017-04-152017-04-152007978-1-4471-6239-1Virtual communities of patients provide health-related information and mutual support for their members. This paper presents a structured analysis of virtual communities of patients and different online and offline integration principles. We analyse the success factors of virtual communities of patients and in particular the demand for new electronic services that improve the online and offline integration.enText17.1007/978-1-84628-905-7