What drives the adoption of online health communities? An empirical study from patient-centric perspective.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Online health communities (OHCs) provide platforms for patients to seek advice from physicians and receive professional suggestions online. It can improve the efficiency of patients' diagnosis of simple diseases and alleviate hospital congestion. However, few empirical studies have comprehensively explored the factors influencing patients' intention to use OHCs through objective data. This study aims to fill this gap by identifying key factors that influence patients' acceptance of OHCs and proposing effective ways to promote the applications of OHCs in China.

Methods

Based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Usage of Technology (UTAUT), extended with additional constructs identified with patients' information demands in OHCs, this study developed a research m

SUBMITTER: Zhang Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10204683 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature