Identification and simulation of key influencing factors of online health information service quality from the perspective of information ecology

Abstract

In the “digital intelligence” environment, the service quality of online health information services has become increasingly prominent. Using the Information Ecology theory as the research perspective, the factors affecting the quality of online health information service was investigated. Using the fuzzy D-I-S (Decision-making rial and Evaluation Laboratory- Interpretive structural modelling- system dynamics simulation) method, various factors of online health information service quality, such as importance, role and hierarchical relationship, and the impact of these factors on future services were analyzed. The main factors affecting the service quality were identified. Four of the most important core factors, the intelligence of technology, interactivity of services, ease of use of information, system ease-of-use, were simulated. Results showed that the service quality could be significantly improved by increasing the investment proportion of these four core factors. A basis for the construction of online health information service quality evaluation indicators, and also a reference for the improvement of online health information service quality was provided.