Converting readers to patients? From free to paid knowledge-sharing in online health communities. Issue 3 (May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Meng, Fanbo; Zhang, Xiaofei; Liu, Libo; Ren, Changchang
• Is Part Of: Information processing & management. Volume 58:Issue 3(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-05
• Subjects: Online health communities -- General knowledge-sharing -- Specific knowledge-sharing -- Online reputation -- Patient involvement -- Patient recruiting; Information storage and retrieval systems -- Periodicals; Information science -- Periodicals; Systèmes d'information -- Périodiques; Sciences de l'information -- Périodiques; Information science; Information storage and retrieval systems; Periodicals; 658.4038
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ipm.2021.102490
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4573

Abstract

Highlights: OHCs enable physicians to share both general and specific health knowledge. General knowledge-sharing is positively associated with specific knowledge-sharing through online reputation. Patient involvement strengthens the effects of general knowledge-sharing on online reputation and specific knowledge-sharing. General knowledge-sharing can be an efficient approach for physicians to recruiting patients. Abstract: Although the sharing of knowledge in online health communities (OHCs) has been explored in recent years, little research has been done to explore the relationship between general and specific knowledge-sharing. Based on the literature on knowledge-sharing in OHCs, this study developed a research model to explore how physicians' general knowledge-sharing behaviors influence their specific knowledge-sharing activities via their online reputations and the contingent role of patient involvement in OHCs. The research model was tested using objective data from a leading OHC in China. The results show that general knowledge-sharing is positively associated with specific knowledge-sharing, and this effect is exerted through online reputation. Moreover, patient involvement strengthens the relationship between general and specific knowledge-sharing as well as the relationship between online reputation and specific knowledge-sharing. By uncovering the relationship between general and specific knowledge-sharing, the research findings extend the understanding of knowledge-sharing and patient recruiting in OHCs and provide significant practical implications for practitioners.