Abstract
BackgroundGiven the rapid increase of Internet use for effective health communication, it is important for health practitioners to be able to identify and mobilize active users of online health information across various web‐based health intervention programmes. We propose the concept ‘health e‐mavens’ to characterize individuals actively engaged in online health information seeking and sharing activities.ObjectivesThis study aimed to address three goals: (i) to test the factor structure of health e‐mavenism, (ii) to assess the reliability and validity of this construct and (iii) to determine what predictors are associated with health e‐mavenism.MethodsThis study was a secondary analysis of nationally representative data from the 2010 Health Tracking Survey. We assessed the factor structure of health e‐mavenism using confirmatory factor analysis and examined socio‐demographic variables, health‐related factors and use of technology as potential predictors of health e‐mavenism through ordered regression analysis.ResultsConfirmatory factor analyses showed that a second‐order two‐factor structure best captured the health e‐maven construct. Health e‐mavenism comprised two second‐order factors, each encompassing two first‐order dimensions: information acquisition (consisting of information tracking and consulting) and information transmission (consisting of information posting and sharing). Both first‐order and second‐order factors exhibited good reliabilities. Several factors were found to be significant predictors of health e‐mavenism.Discussion and conclusionThis study offers a starting point for further inquiries about health e‐mavens. It is a fruitful construct for health promotion research in the age of new media technologies. We conclude with specific recommendations to further develop the health e‐maven concept through continued empirical research.
Highlights
Confirmatory factor analyses showed that a second-order two-factor structure best captured the health e-maven construct
To help guide researchers in the study of individuals engaged in this new online health information trajectory, this study proposes the concept of ‘health e-maven’ and empirically examines it with the Health Tracking Survey data from the Pew Internet & American Life Project.[8]
Confirmatory factor analyses showed health e-mavenism to consist of two primary facets of online behaviours: online health information acquisition and transmission
Summary
The increasing adoption of ‘new health information technologies (HITs)’[1] and web-based health interventions[2,3,4] is reshaping modes of health-care delivery Social media sites, such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, greatly increase the speed and scale of health information exchange with vast capacities for building and sharing user-generated content.[5] Using social media marketing to tailor messages and empower audiences is becoming a key strategy for health promotion programmes.[6] This shift is reflected in the national objectives of Healthy People 2020, which include increasing engagement with health information through web-based technologies and improving the quality of online health information.[7] To help guide researchers in the study of individuals engaged in this new online health information trajectory, this study proposes the concept of ‘health e-maven’ and empirically examines it with the Health Tracking Survey data from the Pew Internet & American Life Project.[8]. We propose the concept ‘health e-mavens’ to characterize individuals actively engaged in online health information seeking and sharing activities
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
