Balancing online pharmacy services for patient adherence: a stimulus-organism-response perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongze Yang ◽  
Zeyu Peng ◽  
Xitong Guo ◽  
Kee-Hung Lai
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Patient Experience ◽  
Social Presence ◽  
Patient Adherence ◽  
User Engagement ◽  
Pharmacy Services ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Online Social Support ◽  
Diet Adherence ◽  
Online Pharmacy

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to identify patient experience unique to online pharmacy services (OPS) based on the characteristics of OPS (i.e. interactivity and virtuality) and to reveal how patient experience is derived from OPS and thereby enhances patient adherence from both online social support and patient experience perspectives.Design/methodology/approachThe Stimulus-Organism-Response framework was used to conceptualize this study; both primary and secondary data for 296 validated participants were collected on a real OPS platform. A structural equation modeling approach combined with partial least squares was employed for the quantitative analysis.FindingsSocial presence and user engagement can be identified as patient experience in the OPS context; online emotional support has a stronger association with patients' social presence than it does with patients' user engagement; patients' social presence has a stronger association with their medication adherence than it does with diet adherence, while patients' user engagement has a stronger association with their diet adherence than it does with medication adherence; patients' medication knowledge negatively moderates the relationship between user engagement and diet adherence.Originality/valueThis study identifies patient experience in accordance with unique characteristics of OPS, and it reveals the nuanced underlying mechanisms by which online social support is associated with patient experience and by which patients' experience is associated with their adherence. This study enriches the literature on patient adherence, patient experience and OPS, providing insights for healthcare providers, OPS designers and policymakers.

Unraveling the links between active and passive social media usage and seniors' loneliness: a field study in aging care communities

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shufang Yang ◽  
Lin Huang ◽  
Yanli Zhang ◽  
Pengzhu Zhang ◽  
Yuxiang Chris Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Field Study ◽  
Social Comparison ◽  
Social Presence ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Media Usage ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThe literature reports inconsistent findings about the effects of social media usage (SMU). Researchers distinguish between active and passive social media usage (ASMU and PSMU), which can generate different effects on users by social support and social comparison mechanisms, respectively. Drawing on social presence theory (SPT), this study integrates an implicit social presence mechanism with the above two mechanisms to explicate the links between SMU and seniors' loneliness.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from a field study by interviewing seniors living in eight aging care communities in China. Loneliness, social media activities and experiences with social media in terms of online social support (OSS), upward social comparison (USC) and social presence (SP) were assessed. Factor-based structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data.FindingsOSS can mediate the relationship between ASMU and seniors' loneliness. Moreover, SP mediates between ASMU, PSMU, and seniors' loneliness, and between OSS, USC and seniors' loneliness. OSS mediates the relationship between ASMU and SP, and USC mediates the relationship between PSMU and SP.Practical implicationsThis study shows that social media can alleviate seniors' loneliness, which could help relieve the pressures faced by health and social care systems. Social presence features are suggested to help older users interact with social health technologies in socially meaningful ways.Originality/valueThis study not only demonstrates that SP can play a crucial role in the relationship between both ASMU and PSMU and loneliness, but also unravels the links between SP and OSS, as well as USC.

The gateway bug to edible insect consumption: interactions between message framing, celebrity endorsement and online social support

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiffany S. Legendre ◽  
Melissa A. Baker
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Message Framing ◽  
Optimal Solution ◽  
Interaction Effects ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Celebrity Endorsement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Online Social Support ◽  
High Social Support

Purpose Climate change and global population growth are threatening the sustainability of hospitality food systems. Foodservice organizations are seeking an optimal solution for this problem. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization proposed edible insects as a solution, yet the “yuck” factor discourages consumers from actively endorsing this option. Thus, this study aims to find ways to increase consumer acceptance of edible insects. Design/methodology/approach A 2 (message framing: hedonic vs utilitarian) × 2 (celebrity endorsement: absence vs presence) × 2 (social support: low vs high) between-subjects factorial design experiment was conducted. Findings The significant three-way interaction effects show that when celebrity endorsement is absent, there is no difference in restaurant advocacy (RA) and experience satisfaction between utilitarian and hedonic message framing, regardless of low (vs high) social support. However, when celebrity endorsement is present and social support is not lacking, a hedonic (vs a utilitarian) message had more significant effects on dependent variables. Conversely, when celebrity-endorsed messages receive high social support, utilitarian (vs hedonic) messages had a more substantial effect on the outcome variables. Originality/value This study contributes to alternative protein and associated consumer psychology and hospitality marketing literature by introducing marketing strategies for edible insects. By demonstrating the three-way interaction effects of message framing, celebrity, endorsement and social support on RA and experience satisfaction, this study could demonstrate some boundary conditions to consider when applying celebrity endorsement strategies (e.g. message framing and social support). Also, by addressing the effects of social support, this study builds upon the lack of hospitality literature on online social support.

Why users purchase virtual products in MMORPG? An integrative perspective of social presence and user engagement

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 408-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Jin ◽  
Yongqiang Sun ◽  
Nan Wang ◽  
Xi Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Social Presence ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Role Playing ◽  
User Engagement ◽  
Research Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Technological Factors ◽  
Intention To Purchase ◽  
The Social ◽  
Virtual Product

Purpose Prior studies on virtual product purchase have focused on external technological factor but have paid less attention to internal user factors. Thus, drawing upon the social presence and user engagement theories, the purpose of this paper is to develop a research model considering both technological factors and user factors and empirically examine the validity of the proposed research model. Design/methodology/approach A survey from 214 World of Warcraft players was conducted to test the proposed research model, and structural equation modelling approach (specifically, PLS) was used to test the proposed hypotheses. Findings The data analysis results suggest that both social presence and user engagement positively influence the intention to purchase virtual products. Furthermore, two technological factors, interactivity and sociability, are found to affect social presence, and two social factors, social ties and social identity, are found to affect user engagement. Originality/value This study proposes a dual factor framework (i.e. technological and user factors) to investigate the factors influencing the intention to purchase by integrating the social presence perspective and user engagement perspective. The findings would be beneficial for service provider of massively multiplayer online role-playing games to recognize that triggering user demand is of equal importance with offering better technologies and suggest new ways to promote users’ virtual product purchase intentions.

Social support, depressive symptoms, and online gaming network communication

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler Prochnow ◽  
Megan S. Patterson ◽  
Logan Hartnell
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Online Gaming ◽  
Network Ties ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Online Social Support ◽  
Social Opportunities ◽  
Site Use ◽  
To Come

Purpose The increase of videogame use has raised concerns regarding mental health of gamers (e.g. social isolation, depression); however, online gaming may offer the benefit of social connectivity. Many games provide ways for people to meet and interact, providing social opportunities difficult to come by for some young adults. One way to investigate social connection is through social network analysis, which explores the influence of connections on behaviors. The purpose of this paper is to analyze factors related to social connections within an online gaming community, with an emphasis on the influence of social support and depressive symptoms on network ties. Design/methodology/approach All members of an online gaming site were asked to report demographics, site use, depressive symptoms, “in-real-life” (IRL) social support, and online social support. Members were also asked to nominate those in their gaming network with whom they spoke to about important life matters. Moran’s I determined the spatial autocorrelation of depressive symptoms and IRL support within the network. Exponential random graph modeling determined factors significantly associated with tie presence between members. Findings Members (n=37) were significantly more likely to speak to other members about important life matters if they reported more site hours, more depressive symptoms, and less IRL support. Depressive symptoms and IRL support were not significantly spatially autocorrelated within this network. Originality/value Results suggest members may be filling an IRL social support deficit with friends they have met online. Additionally, members who reported more depressive symptoms may be seeking help from informal online connections through online gaming.

The central roles of embeddedness and engagement in virtual communities

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 531-550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao-Min Chiu ◽  
Chia-Yun Fu ◽  
Wei-Yu Lin ◽  
Chieh-Fan Chen
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Virtual Community ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Online Social Support ◽  
Community Embeddedness ◽  
Community Identification ◽  
Willingness To Help

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a deeper understanding of how to promote members’ beneficial behaviors toward other members and toward the virtual community (VC). The authors extend Ray et al.’s (2014) framework by developing a more precise definition of community embeddedness, and determining how such embeddedness relates to social support and community engagement. Design/methodology/approach The authors test the proposed research model using data collected from 333 users of online social support communities/groups dedicated to sharing knowledge about pregnancy and child care. Partial least squares is used to analyze the measurement and structural models. Findings The study shows that embeddedness and engagement are significant determinants of willingness to help others and willingness to help the community. Embeddedness has a strong, positive effect on engagement. Social support positively affects community identification and embeddedness. However, community identification does not have a significant effect on engagement. Research limitations/implications Some of the findings, such as the relative importance of embeddedness in fostering willingness to help the community and the relative importance of engagement in fostering willingness to help others, might not be generalizable to VCs where members join for fun and sharing interests. Practical implications Although knowledge contributors could self-derive some drivers of embeddedness and engagement, managers or hosts of VCs should develop strategies and mechanisms to provide or enhance the value they add to knowledge sharing and other beneficial behaviors, even though such added value might be largely intangible. Social implications Social support plays an important role in shaping an individual’s embeddedness within a VC. Managers of VCs should develop strategies to stimulate exchanges of support among members. Originality/value The authors believe that community embeddedness plays a more important role than engagement in shaping the VC’s success and effectiveness. However, the extant VC literature has indicated a relatively weak understanding of the notion of community embeddedness. This study intends to fill that void.

Social media for developing health services

2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 283-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hatem Bugshan ◽  
M. Nick Hajli ◽  
Xiaolin Lin ◽  
Mauricio Featherman ◽  
Ivan Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Web 2.0 ◽  
Transaction Cost ◽  
Health Care Industry ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Online Social Support ◽  
Care Industry ◽  
Modern Health Care

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore in depth how Web 2.0 (focusing on social media) contributes to create a better communication channel to provide information, support and assistance to patients. Social relationships of individuals on the Internet through social media have created added value for many industries. This phenomenon can be an opportunity for the health care industry, which has encountered huge challenges such as increasing demands, budget cuts, growing numbers of patients and more demanding patient expectations. Web 2.0 and social media have the potential value to make possible an increase in the productivity of modern health care and a reduction in cost to the central government. Social media introduces better channels of communication with patients to increase the value of e-health. Social media are building more social communities that empower patients to share their personalized health information and treatments. Design/methodology/approach – Grounded on social support and transaction cost theories, this paper evaluates the current potential of social media to discuss values it can offer for the overall benefit of the health care industry. Findings – The results show how the social relationship of individuals provides online social support and reduction of cost through social media, leading to the development of modern health care. Implications and limitations are discussed at the end of the paper. Originality/value – The analysis results indicated that social media provides strong social support for patients who seek help online. Informational support and emotional support have been confirmed as two main dimensions of social support in online health care. It makes a contribution to the health care literature by extending it to online health care support in the context of social media. It may inform and provide some initial understanding to guide future research. In addition, this study indicates that social support theory and transaction cost are appropriate theoretical foundations for studies of online health care. This finding is very valuable, as it helps researchers to advance the understanding of how social media support online health care.

How chatbots' social presence communication enhances consumer engagement: the mediating role of parasocial interaction and dialogue

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wan-Hsiu Sunny Tsai ◽  
Yu Liu ◽  
Ching-Hua Chuan
Keyword(s):  
Social Presence ◽  
Parasocial Interaction ◽  
User Engagement ◽  
Consumer Engagement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Profile Design ◽  
Parasocial Interactions

PurposeThis study presents one of the earliest empirical investigations on how brand chatbots' anthropomorphic design and social presence communication strategies may improve consumer evaluation outcomes via the mediators of parasocial interaction and perceived dialogue.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs a 2 (high vs. low social presence communication) by 2 (anthropomorphic vs. non-anthropomorphic bot profile) between-subject experimental design to evaluate how chatbots' high social presence communication and anthropomorphic profile design may enhance perceptions of parasocial interactions and dialogue with the chatbot, which in turn drive user engagement, interaction satisfaction and attitude toward the represented brand.FindingsThe influences of chatbots' high social presence communication on consumer engagement outcomes are mediated by perceived parasocial interaction and dialogue. Additionally, chatbots' anthropomorphic profile design can boost the positive effects of social presence communication via the psychological mediators.Originality/valueThis study advances the interactive marketing literature by focusing on an emerging interactive technology, chatbots. Additionally, distinct from prior chatbot studies that focused on the utilitarian use of chatbots for online customer support, this study not only examines which factors of chatbot communication and profile design may drive chatbot effectiveness but also examines the mechanism underlying the messaging and design effects on consumer engagement. The findings highlight the mediating role of interpersonal factors of parasocial interaction and perceived dialogue.

They support, so we talk: the effects of other users on self-disclosure on social networking sites

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng-Yu Lin ◽  
En-Yi Chou ◽  
Heng-Chiang Huang
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Social Exchange ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Social Exchange Theory ◽  
Exchange Theory ◽  
Research Model ◽  
Self Disclosure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Online Social Support

PurposeSocial networking sites (SNSs) have significantly influenced people's lives and changed their behavior. Although previous research has explored self-disclosure in virtual communities, little is known about the impact of other users, particularly their online social support, on self-disclosure. The aim of this study is to explore how online social support dimensions (i.e., emotional, informational, esteem, instrumental and network support) influence people's self-disclosure, which in turn affects their commitment to SNSs.Design/methodology/approachBased on social exchange theory, this study proposes a research model that explores the role of other users on self-disclosure. This study collects data from a sample of 558 respondents and applies the structural equation modeling technique to test the research model.FindingsThe findings show that users are motivated to disclose information and commit to a specific SNS because of the supportive climate. Results also show that self-disclosure mediates the effect of online social support on users' commitment to SNSs.Originality/valueThis study focuses on the influence of other users' roles on self-disclosure on SNSs, extending the application of social exchange theory.

scholarly journals Exploring the Effect of Social Support and Empathy on User Engagement in Online Mental Health Communities

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (13) ◽  
pp. 6855
Author(s):  
Yixin Chen ◽  
Yang Xu
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
User Engagement ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Online Social Support ◽  
User Behaviors ◽  
Mental Problems ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Received Social Support ◽  
Health Communities

It is known that social support and empathy are beneficial for mental health. As a result of the widespread development of social media, online social support and empathy could also influence user behaviors during the development of online communities. However, few studies have examined these effects from the perspective of online mental health communities. These communities appear to be a crucial source for mental health related support, but the spread of online empathy in these communities is not well-understood. This study focused on 22 mental health related subreddits, and matched and compared users (1) who received social support with those who did not receive social support, and users (2) who received more empathic social support with those who received less empathic social support. The results showed that social support and empathy are “contagious”. That is, users who received social support at their first post would be more likely to post again and provide support for others; in addition, users who received more empathic support would subsequently express a higher level of empathy to others in the future. Our findings indicate the potential chain reaction of social support and empathy in online mental health communities. Our study also provides insights into how online mental health communities might better assist people to deliver social support that can help others to deal with mental problems.

Improving customer well-being through two-way online social support

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiuying Zheng ◽  
Tang Yao ◽  
Xiucheng Fan
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Social Exclusion ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Reciprocal Altruism ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Online Social Support ◽  
Socially Excluded ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the dynamics of online health care communities and the impact of two-way online social support on customers’ well-being and patients’ quality of life, at different social exclusion levels. Design/methodology/approach – An online survey in China’s Anti-Hepatitis B Online Community includes 326 respondents. A combined hierarchical regression analysis and structural equation model test the hypotheses. Findings – Both receiving and giving online social support, as reciprocal altruism behaviors, enhance patients’ well-being. Receiving online social support influences psychological well-being most; giving has the largest impact on existential domains. Social exclusion boosts the benefits of giving online social support but attenuates the benefits of receiving it. Research limitations/implications – This research focusses on the effects of online social support among socially excluded patients. Extensions could rely on objective instead of subjective measures and alternative methodologies to test the underlying processes. Additional insights could derive from a bidirectional perspective. Practical implications – Medical treatment institutions should leverage customer resources; health care providers should prioritize patients who feel socially excluded as effective online support providers. Health care community administrators can use several means to convince patients to contribute to communities. Originality/value – Social support in online health care communities is a collaborative service that uses customers as service resources. This study explains the collaborative service and how customers feel about their bidirectional roles. It also extends reciprocal altruism research to a health information technology realm by systematically exploring how giving, vs receiving, online social support affects customers’ well-being.

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