An Analysis on the Critical Influencing Factors of the Knowledge-contributing Behavior of Online Health Communities postprint

Abstract: [Purpose/significance] This paper mainly identified and analyzed the critical influencing factors on the knowledge-contributing behavior of online health communities, in order to provide theoretical basis on promoting the activity of online health communities. [Method/process] The paper constructed the influencing factors system on the knowledge-contributing behavior of online health communities from the perspective of information ecology,and then carried on an incidence analysis of all the possible influencing factors by the DEMATEL method.[Result/conclusion] According to the ranking of cause degree and centre degree on all of influencing factors,the major factors were recognized. Important influencing factors of cause degree include patients'self-efficacy, policies and regulations on online health, the platform ease of use. Important influencing factors of centre degree are doctors' needs of improving medical efficiency, patients' perceived consistency of online health community. Finally some suggestions on promoting the knowledge-contributing behavior were put forward.