Understanding Of The Knowledge Sharing Within Smoking Cessation Online Health Communities From A Social Support Perspective

The increasing demand for smoking-cessation-related services,coupled with the limitations of traditional interventions,underscores the importance of studying smoking cessation online health communities(OHCs).As a typical healthcare service model of "Internet+healthcare",OHCs have a great deal of potentials to help smokers to quit their smoking habit,to increase success rates,and to reduce the smoking prevalence.Previous research on smoking cessation OHCs found that using smoking cessation OHCs could help smokers,but few studies have explored how and why users share knowledge,and how the knowledge affects their offline smoking behaviors.Thus,a deeper understanding of users' knowledge sharing(KS)is needed.To address the research gaps,this study will work on the following research questions from the social support perspective:RQ1:What kind of knowledge do users share in smoking cessation OHCs?RQ2:What motivates users to share their knowledge in smoking cessation OHCs?RQ3:What is the impact of shared knowledge on smoking cessation behaviors?To answer the research questions,this study will investigate KS in smoking cessation OHCs via a case study of the Smoking Cessation Bar.(1)This study analyzes user-generated-data(UGC)via LDA and content analysis to explore the typology of shared knowledge in smoking cessation OHCs.(2)This study explores the determinants of users' KS via survey.(3)This study investigates the influences of shared knowledge in promoting smoking behavior change via interview and UGC.The results show that shared knowledge includes informational,emotional,esteem and network support.The informational and emotional support are two vital support in OHCs.Besides,this study found that users' KS is determined by users' perceived benefits of emotional and network support.Informational benefits affect KS indirectly,and there are differences among different user groups.Further,this study found that informational support is helpful for users at preparation,action,maintainace,and termination stages.Emotional and network support are helpful for users at stages of action,maintainance,and termination.Finally,this study offered advice on how to improve the design and KS management of smoking cessation OHCs.This study contributes to research into KS by highlighting the particular context of smoking cessation OHCs.In addition,this study has implications for improving and optimizing smoking cessation OHCs.This will make smoking cessation OHCs better serve users,and promote the tobacco control.