Abstract
BackgroundThe provision of medical services by Medical Teams (MT) on Online Healthcare Communities (OHCs) is a novel method employed by geographically-dispersed healthcare professionals to serve one patient simultaneously, allowing patients to receive more specific, targeted and comprehensive advice. As a relatively new method of service delivery, little attention has been paid to identifying the determinants of Team-based Service Demands (TSD). Based on Upper Echelons Theory and Social Exchange Theory, this study examines the impact of both professional capital (status capital and decisional capital) and team heterogeneity (team size and dispersion) on TSD.MethodsThis study uses data collected from 890 MTs, employing 3994 team members, operating on haodf.com, a Chinese OHC, to examine effects of both leader and team characteristics on TSD.ResultsOur findings suggest that a MT’s characteristics have a significant impact on TSD. Firstly, the decisional capital of both leaders and teams were positively related with TSD, while only the status capital of leaders saw a positive impact. Secondly, team heterogeneity influenced TSD in two ways: (1) provided a direct negative impact and (2) positively moderated the relationship between professional capital and TSD.ConclusionThis paper comprehensively studies the impact of TSD from the perspectives of professional capital and team heterogeneity, expanding current theoretical understanding of team heterogeneity and social capital in OHCs. Further, it provides practical suggestions for platform development and team leaders managing MTs in online environments.
Highlights
The provision of medical services by Medical Teams (MT) on Online Healthcare Communities (OHCs) is a novel method employed by geographically-dispersed healthcare professionals to serve one patient simultaneously, allowing patients to receive more specific, targeted and comprehensive advice
Using data collected from a Chinese OHC, we empirically investigate how MTs can be deployed with maximum performance, based on the Upper Echelons Theory [16,17,18]
Result analysis Given that prior research has examined factors that influence the outcomes of individual doctors on OHCs [12], and that limited studies have explored them in a team setting context, we propose a conceptual model in which we hypothesize and examine relationships between three characteristics and Team-based Service Demands (TSD) in MTs settings based on the Social Exchange theory and Upper Echelons theory
Summary
The provision of medical services by Medical Teams (MT) on Online Healthcare Communities (OHCs) is a novel method employed by geographically-dispersed healthcare professionals to serve one patient simultaneously, allowing patients to receive more specific, targeted and comprehensive advice. Over the past two decades, healthcare providers have been encouraged to collaborate more frequently with individuals and teams outside of their departmental boundaries, with the aim of improving healthcare provision worldwide [2], and satisfying the MTs are traditionally composed of a Founder (called a leading specialist), and other medical professional members, such as doctors and consultants, who operate in different departments, hospitals, or regions around the world. Team-based service provision enables more informed decisions to be made by doctors, through consultation with other professionals worldwide, and a reduction in patient uncertainty during diagnosis and recovery
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