The Effects of Patient Health Information Seeking in Online Health Communities on Patient Compliance in China: Social Perspective

Abstract

This study proposes a research model to corroborate that patient health information-seeking behavior (way and effectiveness) in OHCs exerts positive effects on patient compliance with the treatment and physician's advice and provides suggestions for patients, physicians, and OHC service providers in China to help guide patients' health-related behaviors through OHCs to improve patient compliance, patient satisfaction, treatment efficiency, and health outcomes.