Impact of Physician-Patient Communication in Online Health Communities on Patient Compliance: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study

Abstract

Background In China, the utilization of medical resources is tense, and most hospitals are highly congested because of the large population and uneven distribution of medical resources. Online health communities (OHCs) play an important role in alleviating hospital congestions, thereby improving the utilization of medical resources and relieving medical resource shortages. OHCs have positive effects on physician-patient relationships and health outcomes. Moreover, as one of the main ways for patients to seek health-related information in OHCs, physician-patient communication may affect patient compliance in various ways. In consideration of the inevitable development of OHCs, although they have several shortcomings, identifying how physician-patient communication can impact patient compliance is important to improve patients’ health outcomes through OHCs. Objective This study aimed to investigate the impact of physician-patient communication on patient compliance in OHCs through the mediation of the perceived quality of internet health information, decision-making preference, and physician-patient concordance, using an empirical study based on the self-determination theory. Methods A research model was established, including 1 independent variable (physician-patient communication), 3 mediators (perceived quality of internet health information, decision-making preference, and physician-patient concordance), 1 dependent variable (patient compliance), and 4 control variables (age, gender, living area, and education level). Furthermore, a Web-based survey involving 423 valid responses was conducted in China to collect data, and structural equation modeling and partial least squares were adopted to analyze data and test the hypotheses. Results The questionnaire response rate was 79.2% (487/615) and the validity rate was 86.9% (423/487); reliability and validity are acceptable. The communication between physicians and patients in OHCs positively affects patient compliance through the mediation of the perceived quality of internet health information, decision-making preference, and physician-patient concordance. Moreover, physician-patient communication exhibits similar impacts on the perceived quality of internet health information, decision-making preference, and physician-patient concordance. Patients’ decision-making preference shows the weakest impact on patient compliance compared with the other 2 mediators. Ultimately, all 3 mediators play a partially mediating role between physician-patient communication and patient compliance. Conclusions We conclude that physician-patient communication in OHCs exhibits a positive impact on patient compliance; thus, patient compliance can be improved by guiding physician-patient communication in OHCs. Furthermore, our findings suggest that physicians can share high-quality health information with patients, discuss benefits, risks, and costs of tre...

Effects of Three Antecedents of Patient Compliance for Users of Peer-to-Peer Online Health Communities: Cross-Sectional Study

“…To our knowledge, this is the first study to address the effects of patient empowerment gained through peer-to-peer OHCs on patient compliance with the proposed treatment. As such, this study extends prior research [14] showing that communication between physicians and patients in OHCs positively affects patient compliance. Lu and Zhang [14] found that when patients interact with physicians in OHCs, they have a better assessment of the quality of internet health information and they have better preferences during decision-making processes.…”

“…Although these communities can present disadvantages, such as the spread of misinformation and unreliable support or advice, OHCs play a role in heightening patients’ sense of empowerment as they feel better informed and guided by relevant others [13]. Prior research has shown that communication between the physicians and patients in these communities enhances patient compliance [14]. However, despite the considerable development of peer-to-peer OHCs, there is a lack of evidence regarding their effects on patient compliance.…”

Impact of mobile health and medical applications on clinical practice in gastroenterology

“…Physicians view their role as responsible and trusted[ 96 ]. Lu et al[ 99 ] conducted a study about the use of online health communities (OHCs), which supports the previous information. They found that OHCs have a positive impact on patient compliance, which can be enforced even more by guiding physician-patient communication in the OHCs.…”

“…The opportunity to share high-quality health information with patients and discuss the benefits, risks and costs of treatment options encourages the patients. Patients can participate in health-related decision-making, and the misunderstanding of information decreases[ 99 ]. eHealth applications not only change the way people inform themselves or track health information but also change communication.…”

Social Support and User Characteristics in Online Diabetes Communities: An In-Depth Survey of a Large-Scale Chinese Population

“…Social media has become a key medium through which people communicate and share their health experiences. Although opportunities for users to provide health-related content on personal website home pages have been available for a while [26], the diffusion and increasingly broad application of social media since the mid-2000s have made these opportunities much easier [27][28][29]. The creation of content through social media applications, such as WeChat, QQ, Sina microblog, Baidu Post Bar, and Facebook has become especially popular [30,31].…”