ICSH 2014: Smart Health pp 75-87 | Cite as

Collaborative Friendship Networks in Online Healthcare Communities: An Exponential Random Graph Model Analysis

  • Xiaolong Song
  • Shan Jiang
  • Xianbin Yan
  • Hsinchun Chen
Conference paper
Part of the Lecture Notes in Computer Science book series (LNCS, volume 8549)

Abstract

Health 2.0 provides patients an unprecedented way to connect with each other online. However, less attention has been paid to how patient collaborative friendships form in online healthcare communities. This study examines the relationship between collaborative friendship formation and patients’ characteristics. Results from Exponential Random Graph Model (ERGM) analysis indicate that gender homophily doesn’t appear in CFNs, while health homophily such as treatments homophily and health-status homophily increases the likelihood of collaborative friendship formation. This study provides insights for improving website design to help foster close relationship among patients and deepen levels of engagement.

Keywords

Health 2.0 Patient networks Collaborative friendship ERGMs 
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Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014

Authors and Affiliations

  • Xiaolong Song
    • 1
  • Shan Jiang
    • 2
  • Xianbin Yan
    • 1
  • Hsinchun Chen
    • 2
  1. 1.School of ManagementHarbin Institute of TechnologyHarbinChina
  2. 2.Department of Management Information SystemsUniversity of ArizonaTucsonUSA

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