User Behaviors and User-Generated Content in Chinese Online Health Communities: Comparative Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Online health communities (OHCs) have increasingly gained traction with patients, caregivers, and supporters globally. Chinese OHCs are no exception. However, user-generated content (UGC) and the associated user behaviors in Chinese OHCs are largely underexplored and rarely analyzed systematically, forfeiting valuable opportunities for optimizing treatment design and care delivery with insights gained from OHCs.

Objective

This study aimed to reveal both the shared and distinct characteristics of 2 popular OHCs in China by systematically and comprehensively analyzing their UGC and the associated user behaviors.

Methods

We concentrated on studying the lung cancer forum (LCF) and breast cancer forum (BCF) on Mijian, and the diabetes consultation forum (DCF) on

SUBMITTER: Lei Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8717137 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature