An Analysis of Factors Influencing Knowledge Sharing in Online Health Communities

Abstract

Purpose This study investigates the key factors influencing knowledge sharing within Online Health Communities (OHCs), focusing on how different types of support impact sharing general health and specific health knowledge.

Design/Methodology/Approach This study adopts a quantitative research design, collecting data from 308 participants across various OHCs through a questionnaire survey. The questionnaire assesses the relationships between informational support, emotional support, altruism, personal innovativeness, and knowledge-sharing behavior. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), the researchers systematically analyzed the impact of these factors on the sharing of general health knowledge (such as health advice and lifestyle information) and specific health knowledge (such as medical, technical details, and treatment plans).

Findings The analysis revealed that informational support significantly promotes general health and specific health knowledge sharing in OHCs. Emotional support has a notable effect on general health knowledge sharing but is limited in its impact on specific health knowledge sharing, potentially due to the technical nature of the information involved. Altruism positively influences general health knowledge sharing but shows mixed effects on specific health knowledge sharing, possibly due to the complexity and difficulty of the knowledge being shared. Personal innovativeness enhances general health knowledge sharing but may conflict with existing norms in specific health knowledge contexts, leading to variable outcomes.