초록

Abstract

This study investigated what web users share on a health website and how the demographic characteristics of users reflect health information sharing behavior. By using a content analysis method, this study analyzed 1,042 randomly chosen messages in the discussion board of a health website. The results revealed that the health website users emotionally supported other users, provided health information, and built relationships between them. Two third of the health website users shared his/her thoughts or feelings about ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) on the health website and one fourth of the health website users connected with others who had ALS. A half of the users actively provided information as a direct response to a question. No significant differences were discerned with regard to total posting frequency by age and gender effect. However, the male users in the 50s answered questions to others more actively and tried to manage their life better than the other age groups.