Electronic Healthcare. 4th International Conference, eHealth 2011, Málaga, Spain, November 21-23, 2011, Revised Selected Papers

Research Article

Engagement in Online Medical Communities of Practice in Healthcare: Analysis of Messages and Social Networks

Download
475 downloads
  • @INPROCEEDINGS{10.1007/978-3-642-29262-0_22,
        author={David Fowler and Martin Szomszor and Simon Hammond and John Lawrenson and Patty Kostkova},
        title={Engagement in Online Medical Communities of Practice in Healthcare: Analysis of Messages and Social Networks},
        proceedings={Electronic Healthcare. 4th International Conference, eHealth 2011, M\^{a}laga, Spain, November 21-23, 2011, Revised Selected Papers},
        proceedings_a={E-HEALTH},
        year={2012},
        month={5},
        keywords={},
        doi={10.1007/978-3-642-29262-0_22}
    }
    
  • David Fowler
    Martin Szomszor
    Simon Hammond
    John Lawrenson
    Patty Kostkova
    Year: 2012
    Engagement in Online Medical Communities of Practice in Healthcare: Analysis of Messages and Social Networks
    E-HEALTH
    Springer
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-29262-0_22
David Fowler1,*, Martin Szomszor1, Simon Hammond1, John Lawrenson1, Patty Kostkova1
  • 1: City University
*Contact email: David.Fowler.1@city.ac.uk

Abstract

We report on preliminary analysis on user engagement in two online medical communities of practice. Despite the communities being independent of each other, and dealing with different domains (field epidemiology and therapeutic prescribing for optometrists), there are some clear similarities in the networks of users, and in patterns of replies to user postings. We also draw some initial conclusions to help maintain user engagement in these and similar sites, and we suggest some future lines of research.