The Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA UK) forum is an area where people affected by pulmonary hypertension (PH) can share experiences and information.

Users of the forum have discussions about many different topics including their experiences of different treatments for PH, remembering loved ones who have lost their battle with PH and caring for someone with PH. The forum is also used to publicise fundraising events and raise awareness of current PHA UK campaigns.

This user guide aims to give you some guidelines and tips on how to use the PHA UK forum.

Registering and logging in

If you only want to read messages on the PHA UK forum, you don't need to register. However, you need to register as a user if you would like to post messages and reply to posts. Registering involves thinking of a username and password, as well as providing your email address. You will also be asked to give some additional information such as your date of birth, occupation and interests. You don't have to give this information, as it's optional. Any information you give will be treated as confidential.

When you register you will be asked to accept some terms and conditions. You can't use the forum without accepting these terms and conditions.

Once you have registered, the PHA UK will contact you to verify your registration. Then you can log in and start using the forum. Simply type in your username and password. If you forget your password, you can reset it. If you haven't posted anything for a while, you may need to re-register as your record may have been deleted.

Posting a message

Forums have message boards where users post their comments and replies to different topics. The PHA UK forum is split into several message boards with:

• Topics related to PH

• Topics unrelated to PH

Within each of these message boards there are a series of topics.

Replying to a message on a forum message board is easy. Just click on the message board and topic you are interested in then click the Post Reply button at the bottom left hand corner of the webpage. Then you can type your message in the box.

Before you post your message try to make sure it is in the correct topic and is relevant. Forum moderators may move your post to another part of the forum if it is in the wrong place. It's also a good idea to read the entire thread to make sure your message isn't the same as someone else's.

Creating a topic

Users can also create their own discussion topic by clicking the New Topic + button in the top left hand corner of the forum page. You can then type in your message to start a discussion. Try to make sure the title of the topic is informative and specific so people know what the topic is about. Before you post your new topic, it might be a good idea to make sure no one else has posted a similar topic recently. You can use the search function on the forum to do this.

Editing and deleting messages

Users can only edit and delete messages that they have created. Only forum moderators can delete and edit any messages. If someone has replied to your post, you won't be able to delete it.

Sending a private message

Users can send private messages to other forum users, which nobody else can read. This works the same as a normal email service. To do this, you need to click on the drop down menu next to a users profile name, then click on Send Private Message.

Using smilies

Smilies or emoticons are used to express the feelings of users in messages. They are faces showing different emotions. Smilies are important as they help to prevent misunderstandings and are an easy way to show how you are feeling, rather than trying to explain it in words.

Smilies appear next to the box where you type your message on the forum. Simply click which smilie you would like to use. Using too many smilies can make your messages difficult to read. It's probably best to stick to using only one or two smilies in each message.

Netiquette (net etiquette)

It is important to remember that the PHA UK forum can be viewed by anyone. This includes children and teenagers. Therefore users should adopt proper netiquette when using the forum.

General netiquette tips:

• Be respectful of other forum users - don't say anything in your messages you wouldn't say to someone's face

• Think carefully before you post a message - will it cause anyone offence?

• Avoid posting messages containing adult content or link to other websites that might be inappropriate for children and teenagers

• Avoid posting messages containing harmful language. This includes racist, homophobic or sexists messages and messages containing swear words.

• Think carefully when discussing topics that may be sensitive to other users such as religion and politics

• Use CAPITALS sparingly. Using capitals is seen as shouting. It's also best to avoid using bold and underline for the same reason

• Report any breaches of the forum terms and conditions to the forum moderators.

We'd like our forum to be as friendly and informal as possible, so please consider your messages before posting them on the forum.

Moderators

Moderators are members of the PHA UK who monitor the forum and make sure that there is no harmful content being posted online. They are regular users of the forum and have been trained to be moderators.

Moderators will flag-up any harmful messages and topics to the PHA UK, which will lead to those messages being removed from the forum. Harmful messages could include:

• Messages containing offensive language eg, swear words, racist, homophobic or sexist comments

• Messages that mention specific healthcare professionals or hospitals

• Messages that are seen as bullying other members of the forum

Please be aware that if you post what is considered as a harmful message on the forum, then it is more than likely that your message will be deleted. Depending on the content of your message, if a serious breach of the terms and conditions has been made, you are likely to be permanently banned from using the forum.

Medical advice

It's important to treat any discussions surrounding medical advice very cautiously. This includes discussions about potential new treatments for PH. Most of the posts on the forum are not written by trained medical professionals. Always check with your specialist PH team or GP before you act on any medical advice from posts on the forum.

You should also be careful about offering any medical advice to other users of the forum. Your condition and experience with PH may be very different to theirs. It's always best to advise people to seek advice from their specialist PH team or GP.

Changing forum settings

Once you have registered and logged in to the forum, you can use the Member control panel menu to change your settings. The Member control panel menu can be used to:

• Update and change your profile information

• Change your signature or avatar (picture)

• Update and change your registration details (eg, password)

• Change your forum settings such the time and date displayed on the forum

Disclaimer

The PHA UK cannot be held liable for anything posted on the forum. All messages posted on the forum are the views of individual users and do not represent the views of the PHA UK or the moderators of the forum.