scholarly journals Antecedents and consequences of the perceived usefulness of smoking cessation online health communities

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenglong Li ◽  
Hongxiu Li ◽  
Reima Suomi
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Informational Support ◽  
Continuance Intention ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Online Health Communities ◽  
Health Communities

PurposeAn empirical study investigated the antecedents to perceived usefulness (PU) and its consequences in the context of smoking cessation online health communities (OHCs).Design/methodology/approachTo validate a research model for perceived informational support, perceived emotional support and perceived esteem support, the authors conducted a partial-least-squares analysis of empirical data from an online survey (N = 173) of users of two smoking cessation OHCs. The proposed model articulates these as antecedents to PU from a social support perspective, and knowledge sharing and continuance intention are expressed as consequences of PU.FindingsThe empirical study identified that the PU of smoking cessation OHCs is influenced by perceived emotional support and perceived esteem support, and perceived informational support indirectly affects PU via these factors. In turn, PU exerts a positive influence on both knowledge sharing and continuance intention. Also, knowledge sharing positively affects continuance intention.Originality/valueThe study contributes to scholarship on users' postadoption behavior in the context of smoking cessation OHCs by disentangling the antecedents to PU from a social support perspective and pinpointing some important consequences of PU. The research also has practical implications for managing smoking cessation OHCs.

scholarly journals Knowledge sharing in online smoking cessation communities: a social capital perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenglong Li ◽  
Hongxiu Li ◽  
Reima Suomi ◽  
Yong Liu
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Online Health Communities ◽  
Structural Capital ◽  
The Social ◽  
Health Communities ◽  
Social Capital Perspective ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeAlthough knowledge sharing in online communities has been studied for many years, little is known about the determinants for individuals' knowledge sharing in online health communities (OHCs) surrounding smoking cessation. Examining the determinants of knowledge sharing in such OHCs from the social capital perspective may prove particularly enlightening.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire-based online user survey of two smoking cessation OHCs, one based in Finland and one based in China, was performed. Performing data analysis with partial least squares (SmartPLS 3.0), the authors developed a model conceptualizing the structural, cognitive and relational dimensions of social capital as drivers for knowledge sharing in smoking cessation OHCs, with users' stage in giving up smoking as a moderator.FindingsThe results show that structural capital (social ties) and relational capital (reciprocity) are important motivators behind knowledge sharing in smoking cessation OHCs, and the authors found a moderating effect of the stage in quitting on the antecedents' relationship with knowledge sharing in these OHCs.Originality/valueThe study enriches understanding of knowledge sharing in smoking cessation OHCs, contributing to theory and identifying practical implications for such groups' administration.

Understanding relationship commitment and continuous knowledge sharing in online health communities: a social exchange perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xing Zhang ◽  
Shan Liu
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Social Exchange ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Perceived Health ◽  
Relationship Commitment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Online Health Communities ◽  
Health Communities ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose Online health communities (OHCs) have become increasingly popular sources of health information in recent years. However, little is known about the factors that affect the relationship commitment and continuous knowledge sharing intention among OHC members. Thus, this study aims to integrate social exchange and commitment-trust theories to establish a theoretical model to fill the gap. Design/methodology/approach A research model that integrates social exchange theory and commitment-trust theory is developed. Quantitative data from 519 valid questionnaires are collected via an offline survey. Statistical product and service solutions 20.0 and analysis of a moment structures 20.0 software are used to test the hypotheses. Findings Relationship commitment directly influences continuous knowledge sharing intention, partially mediates the relationship between social support and continuous knowledge sharing intention, and fully mediates the relationship between perceived health risks and continuous knowledge sharing intention. Informational and emotional supports are identified as benefit factors that positively affect relationship commitment and perceived health risks are regarded as cost factors that negatively influence relationship commitment. Informational and emotional supports of OHC members produce different effects on relationship commitment when members obtain social support from different sources. Moreover, trust moderates the influences of informational support and perceived health risks on relationship commitment. Originality/value The findings provide additional insights that can augment the knowledge management literature by indicating how people are driven to share knowledge continuously in the context of OHCs. This study empirically clarifies the relationships of benefits (i.e. social support) and costs (i.e. perceived health risks) to continuous knowledge sharing intention by demonstrating the significant mediating effect of relationship commitment. In addition, the findings of this study highlight the importance of the social support source in OHCs and provide additional insights into commitment–trust theory by integrating the moderating effect of trust on the relationships between relationship commitment and its antecedents.

Cognitive mechanisms underlying interaction and contribution in online health communities: the perspectives of doctors and patients

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Wang ◽  
Jia Wang ◽  
Qiao Li
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Group Analysis ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Dual Processes ◽  
Cognitive Mechanisms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Online Health Communities ◽  
Knowledge Contribution ◽  
Health Communities ◽  
The Impact

PurposeActive interaction and knowledge contribution are vital yet challenging elements of the sustainable development of online health communities (OHCs). To investigate the cognitive mechanisms underlying these behaviours in doctors' and patients' use of OHCs, this study develops a theoretical model to examine the relationships among cognitive modes, patterns of interaction, perceived usefulness, and contribution behaviour and the impact of user identity on these relationships.Design/methodology/approachTo test the research hypotheses, structural equation modelling and multiple-group analysis were used to analyse survey data from 207 doctors and 213 patients.FindingsThe results indicate that dual processes and perceived usefulness are the key cognitive antecedents of interaction and knowledge contribution, respectively. However, the correlation of the rational mode and instrumental interaction is significantly stronger in the doctors' group than in the patients' group, while a stronger correlation between the experiential mode and instrumental interaction is observed in the patients' group.Practical implicationsThese findings support the development of information and system strategies to support the operation of dual processes underlying doctors' and patients' instrumental and affective interactions, facilitate evaluation and sense-making of interaction activities, and motivate knowledge contribution.Originality/valueThis study uncovers the invariance and variability in the relationships between salient cognitive activities and behavioural responses in doctors' and patients' use of OHCs and the impact of user identity on variability.

Understanding users’ participation in online health communities: A social capital perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 403-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
Social Capital Theory ◽  
Informational Support ◽  
Capital Theory ◽  
Online Health Communities ◽  
The Social ◽  
Health Communities ◽  
Social Capital Perspective

Due to the intense competition, it is crucial for online health communities to facilitate users’ participation and retain them. Drawing on the social capital theory, this research examined users’ participation in online health communities. The results indicated that social support, which includes informational support and emotional support, has a significant effect on social capital, which in turn affects users’ participation including health knowledge acquisition and contribution. The results imply that online health communities need to create a supportive climate in order to develop social capital and facilitate users’ participation.

Examining users’ knowledge sharing behaviour in online health communities

2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 442-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Information Quality ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Research Model ◽  
Privacy Concern ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Online Health Communities ◽  
Community Platforms ◽  
Health Communities

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to draw on the stimulus-organism-response (SOR) framework to examine users’ knowledge sharing in online health communities (OHC). Design/methodology/approach Based on the 326 valid responses collected from a survey, structural equation modelling was employed to examine the research model. Findings The results indicated that both information quality and service quality affect trust in community, whereas both informational support and emotional support affect trust in other members. Both types of trust and privacy risk determine users’ sharing intention, which in turn affects sharing behaviour. Research limitations/implications The results imply that service providers need to improve their community platforms and create a supportive climate in order to facilitate users’ trust and their knowledge sharing behaviour. Originality/value Previous studies have examined a few determinants of OHC user behaviour such as privacy concern, trust and motivations. However, they have seldom disclosed the internal decision process underlying users’ knowledge sharing. This research tries to fill the gap.

scholarly journals Exploring the Factors Influencing Consumers to Voluntarily Reward Free Health Service Contributors in Online Health Communities: Empirical Study (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junjie Zhou ◽  
Fang Liu ◽  
Tingting Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Social Norm ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
Informational Support ◽  
Online Health Communities ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Norm Compliance ◽  
Health Communities

BACKGROUND Rewarding health knowledge and health service contributors with money is one possible approach for the sustainable provision of health knowledge and health services in online health communities (OHCs); however, the reasons why consumers voluntarily reward free health knowledge and health service contributors are still underinvestigated. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to address the abovementioned gap by exploring the factors influencing consumers’ voluntary rewarding behaviors (VRBs) toward contributors of free health services in OHCs. METHODS On the basis of prior studies and the cognitive-experiential self-theory (CEST), we incorporated two health service content–related variables (ie, informational support and emotional support) and two interpersonal factors (ie, social norm compliance and social interaction) and built a proposed model. We crawled a dataset from a Chinese OHC for mental health, coded it, extracted nine variables, and tested the model with a negative binomial model. RESULTS The data sample included 2148 health-related questions and 12,133 answers. The empirical results indicated that the effects of informational support (β=.168; <i>P</i>&lt;.001), emotional support (β=.463; <i>P</i>&lt;.001), social norm compliance (β=.510; <i>P</i>&lt;.001), and social interaction (β=.281; <i>P</i>&lt;.001) were significant. The moderating effects of social interaction on informational support (β=.032; <i>P</i>=.02) and emotional support (β=−.086; <i>P</i>&lt;.001) were significant. The moderating effect of social interaction on social norm compliance (β=.014; <i>P</i>=.38) was insignificant. CONCLUSIONS Informational support, emotional support, social norm compliance, and social interaction positively influence consumers to voluntarily reward free online health service contributors. Social interaction enhances the effect of informational support but weakens the effect of emotional support. This study contributes to the literature on knowledge sharing in OHCs by exploring the factors influencing consumers’ VRBs toward free online health service contributors and contributes to the CEST literature by verifying that the effects of experiential and rational systems on individual behaviors can vary while external factors change.

Factors driving continued use of online health promotion competitions

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 802-820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaolong Song ◽  
Yi-Hung Liu ◽  
Jiahua Jin ◽  
Jianguo Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Proportional Hazards Model ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Community Response ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards Model ◽  
Informational Support ◽  
Content Type

Purpose Gamification elements have been increasingly used in online weight-loss communities to help users lose weight. The purpose of this paper is to systemically examine whether and how social interactions influence users’ continued participation in the context of online weight-loss competitions (OWCs). Design/methodology/approach This study empirically investigated sustained involvement in OWCs using a Cox proportional hazards model. Additionally, the research utilized a text-mining technique to identify various types of social support and explored their roles in sustaining participation behavior in OWCs. Findings Community response both within and outside OWCs positively influence users’ continued participation in OWCs. Moreover, whereas emotional support and companionship received within OWCs have a greater impact on users’ continued participation than informational support received within OWCs, informational support received outside OWCs has a greater impact on users’ continued participation than emotional support and companionship received outside OWCs. Originality/value This paper highlights users’ social needs in OWC engagement and provides empirical evidence on how different types and sources of social support influence continued participation behavior in OWCs. The research additionally provides management implications for online health community service providers.

Charting consumers' continued social commerce intention

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xi Hu ◽  
Zhenjiao Chen ◽  
Robert M. Davison ◽  
Yaqin Liu
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Source Credibility ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Social Commerce ◽  
Continuance Intention ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Perceived Enjoyment ◽  
Emotional Social Support

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the factors influencing consumers' continued social commerce (s-commerce) intention and its underlying mechanism.Design/methodology/approachThe authors define continued s-commerce intention as consumers' intention to continually participate in s-commerce activities, namely, requesting and sharing commercial information. Grounded in the motivation theory, perceived usefulness and perceived enjoyment are identified in this study as the motives behind consumers' continued s-commerce intention. Given the indispensable social facet of s-commerce, the authors include social support as another critical social factor motivating continuance intention. Furthermore, users' perceptions are affected by prior s-commerce outcomes, which concern the effectiveness of the commercial information exchange process. Research suggests that in such a context, the result of communication is jointly determined by source credibility and interactive relationships amongst individuals. Whilst source credibility determines the usefulness of the information transmitted, a social interaction supports this process. Therefore, source credibility and social interactions are crucial to the outcomes of s-commerce, which, in turn, affect consumers' perceived usefulness, perceived enjoyment and social support in s-commerce. Building on these arguments, the authors propose our research model and then test the hypotheses via a survey.FindingsThe authors find that consumers' perceived usefulness and informational social support of s-commerce directly affect their continued s-commerce intention. Moreover, perceived enjoyment leads to continued s-commerce intention via the mediation of perceived usefulness, whilst emotional social support influences continued s-commerce intention through the mediator of informational social support. In addition, source credibility is a significant antecedent of consumers' usefulness, enjoyment and social support perceptions, whilst a social interaction significantly impacts perceived enjoyment and social support.Originality/valueVarious consumer behaviours in s-commerce have been studied; however, the continuance intention to participate in the s-commerce activity remains unknown. This empirical study fills this research gap. Moreover, the authors initially reveal s-commerce participants' utilitarian orientation in the post-adoption stage: perceived usefulness and informational social support affect continuance intention more directly than perceived enjoyment and emotional social support. Further, prior studies on information systems continuance have mainly focused on technical features. By identifying the influence from social factors, i.e. social support, this work extends the literature on information systems continuance.

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