Analysis of Network Structure and Doctor Behaviors in E-Health Communities from a Social-Capital Perspective

In tandem with internet development and widespread social media use, e-health communities have begun to emerge in recent years. These communities allow doctors to access forums anywhere, anytime, seek or exchange medical information online, find literature, and so on. This is convenient and can solve some problems for doctors while also promoting doctor communication. This study collected and collated 102 doctors in the “Lilac Forum” and used social network tools to quantify the overall network density, centrality, core–periphery structure, and structural hole indicators of doctors’ information exchange from a social-capital perspective. The results showed that the frequency of interaction between doctors differed because of differences in the identities and participation of doctors in the e-health community. The density of the doctors’ information dissemination network (0.228) and network cohesion (0.610) were relatively high. Thus, the doctors were more closely connected, and information was easily spread. At the same time, doctors with higher professional titles had obvious location characteristics, familiarity and trust, and high levels of reciprocity. They could obtain redundant information in the network and were more likely to influence the behavior of other doctors. This study’s findings provide support for improving information exchange among doctors in e-health communities and improving the service levels of the platforms.

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

Internet Research ◽

10.1108/intr-03-2020-0113 ◽

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.

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Exploring the Relational Aspects of Patient and Doctor Communication

International Journal of Whole Person Care ◽

10.26443/ijwpc.v1i1.38 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Richard Hovey ◽

Helen Massfeller

Keyword(s):

Information Exchange ◽

Medical Information ◽

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Communication Process ◽

Patient Relationship ◽

Doctor Patient Relationship ◽

Patient Response ◽

Medical Encounter ◽

Doctor Communication

The alliance concept is an essential component of therapeutic relationships. Contrary to empirical evidence, its relevance is often not acknowledged in medical encounters. This circumstance invites the question, ‘‘How can the doctor and patient connect relationally with each other to improve the communication process and promote healing?’’ We propose that healing can be accomplished through dialog that emphasizes the collaborative nature of the partnership between the doctor and patient. The typical conversation in a medical encounter may be reduced to an information exchange and a medium for prescribing directives. This being-with approach can override patients’ involvement in the process. A positive doctor–patient relationship may be one of the most important, and most frequently overlooked, factors for predicting patient response to negative medical information. Receiving such news is potentially upsetting for the patient and may require the doctor to let go of the conversational medical agenda and adopt a being-for mode of relationship. We propose that this approach invites the doctor and patient to work together and negotiate how to manage the chronic illness eliciting patient-preferred treatment options. The authors propose the adoption of the being-for relationship as a way of enhancing the therapeutic potential of the doctor–patient relationship.

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

Information Development ◽

10.1177/0266666919864620 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 36 (3) ◽

pp. 403-413 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

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.

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Examining Patterns of Information Exchange and Social Support in a Web-Based Health Community: Exponential Random Graph Models (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.18062 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Xuan Liu ◽

Shan Jiang ◽

Min Sun ◽

Xiaotong Chi

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Health Care ◽

Information Exchange ◽

Exponential Random Graph Models ◽

Data Set ◽

Web Based ◽

Exponential Random Graph ◽

Health Community ◽

Health Communities ◽

Network Exchange

BACKGROUND Although an increasing number of studies have attempted to understand how people interact with others in web-based health communities, studies focusing on understanding individuals’ patterns of information exchange and social support in web-based health communities are still limited. In this paper, we discuss how patients’ social interactions develop into social networks based on a network exchange framework and empirically validate the framework in web-based health care community contexts. OBJECTIVE This study aims to explore various patterns of information exchange and social support in web-based health care communities and identify factors that affect such patterns. METHODS Using social network analysis and text mining techniques, we empirically validated a network exchange framework on a 10-year data set collected from a popular web-based health community. A reply network was extracted from the data set, and exponential random graph models were used to discover patterns of information exchange and social support from the network. RESULTS Results showed that reciprocated information exchange was common in web-based health communities. The homophily effect existed in general conversations but was weakened when exchanging knowledge. New members in web-based health communities tended to receive more support. Furthermore, polarized sentiment increases the chances of receiving replies, and optimistic users play an important role in providing social support to the entire community. CONCLUSIONS This study complements the literature on network exchange theories and contributes to a better understanding of social exchange patterns in the web-based health care context. Practically, this study can help web-based patients obtain information and social support more effectively.

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Examining Patterns of Information Exchange and Social Support in a Web-Based Health Community: Exponential Random Graph Models

Journal of Medical Internet Research ◽

10.2196/18062 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (9) ◽

pp. e18062

Author(s):

Xuan Liu ◽

Shan Jiang ◽

Min Sun ◽

Xiaotong Chi

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Health Care ◽

Information Exchange ◽

Exponential Random Graph Models ◽

Data Set ◽

Web Based ◽

Exponential Random Graph ◽

Health Community ◽

Health Communities ◽

Network Exchange

Background Although an increasing number of studies have attempted to understand how people interact with others in web-based health communities, studies focusing on understanding individuals’ patterns of information exchange and social support in web-based health communities are still limited. In this paper, we discuss how patients’ social interactions develop into social networks based on a network exchange framework and empirically validate the framework in web-based health care community contexts. Objective This study aims to explore various patterns of information exchange and social support in web-based health care communities and identify factors that affect such patterns. Methods Using social network analysis and text mining techniques, we empirically validated a network exchange framework on a 10-year data set collected from a popular web-based health community. A reply network was extracted from the data set, and exponential random graph models were used to discover patterns of information exchange and social support from the network. Results Results showed that reciprocated information exchange was common in web-based health communities. The homophily effect existed in general conversations but was weakened when exchanging knowledge. New members in web-based health communities tended to receive more support. Furthermore, polarized sentiment increases the chances of receiving replies, and optimistic users play an important role in providing social support to the entire community. Conclusions This study complements the literature on network exchange theories and contributes to a better understanding of social exchange patterns in the web-based health care context. Practically, this study can help web-based patients obtain information and social support more effectively.

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How Does Health Knowledge Sharing Affect Patient Perceived Value in Online Health Communities? A Social Capital Perspective

Smart Health - Lecture Notes in Computer Science ◽

10.1007/978-3-030-34482-5_17 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 189-197

Author(s):

Cui Guo ◽

Zhen Zhang ◽

Junjie Zhou

Keyword(s):

Social Capital ◽

Knowledge Sharing ◽

Health Knowledge ◽

Perceived Value ◽

Online Health Communities ◽

Health Communities ◽

Social Capital Perspective

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Digital Social Networks From a Social Capital Perspective

Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology, Fifth Edition - Advances in Information Quality and Management ◽

10.4018/978-1-7998-3479-3.ch076 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1106-1117

Author(s):

Suparna Dhar ◽

Indranil Bose ◽

Mohammed Naved Khan

Keyword(s):

Social Capital ◽

Social Networking ◽

Information Dissemination ◽

Human Life ◽

Theoretical Interpretation ◽

Gender Barriers ◽

Antecedents And Consequences ◽

And Gender ◽

Impact Of Technology ◽

Social Capital Perspective

Digital social networking (DSN) sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, have brought about changes in the way people communicate, interact, and affected human lifestyle across the world. The phenomenon has permeated geographical and cultural boundaries, disregarded age and gender barriers, diffused social and economic strata, and transgressed linguistic and ethnic boundaries. Such widespread and intense impact of technology on human life is unprecedented in human history triggers academic interest in the phenomenon. The unique opportunities offered by digitization of social networking, the novel capabilities of information dissemination and foraging on DSN sites, along with widespread adoption necessitates theoretical interpretation of antecedents and consequences of DSN adoption. In this chapter, the authors offer a social capital perspective of DSN adoption.

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Diabetes self-management in online health communities: an information exchange perspective

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making ◽

10.1186/s12911-021-01561-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jing Min ◽

Yan Chen ◽

Li Wang ◽

Ting He ◽

Sha Tang

Keyword(s):

Information Sharing ◽

Social Exchange ◽

Information Exchange ◽

Medical Information ◽

Self Management ◽

Sources Of Information ◽

Moderating Effects ◽

Source Information ◽

Online Health Communities ◽

Health Communities

Abstract Background Online health communities (OHCs), with a wealth of multi-source information exchange, have provided a convenient way for people with diabetes to actively participate in their self-management and have been widely used. Information exchange assists people with diabetes with health-related decisions to actively engage in their care, and reduce the occurrence of potential complications of diabetes. However, there has been relatively little research on the information exchange behaviors and their effect on health in professional online medical platforms—OHCs. Objective Using a social exchange theory, this study focuses on two sources of information (doctors and people with diabetes) to investigate information exchange behaviors and consequences. Moreover, we also examine moderating effects of information price as patients need to pay prices for consulting with doctors to obtain medical information on OHCs. Methods By using the Python program, a rich dataset contained 22,746 doctor-patient dialogues from December 2017 to December 2018 is collected from the biggest OHC in China. Then the logistic and ordinal regression models are used to get empirical results. Results We found that first information sharing from doctors and other people with diabetes can promote their information sharing behavior. Second, the moderating effects of information price are heterogeneous and change with the exchange participants. Third, rich information exchange supports self-management of people with diabetes and improves their health status. Conclusion This study is among the first that tests the information exchange behavior and consequence for diabetes in OHCs and examines the moderating effects of the information price. The present study produces several insights, which have implications for social exchange, patient behavior, online health communities, and information technology in diabetes self-management literature.

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