How the public uses social media wechat to obtain health information in china

A survey study

Bibliographic Data

ID23358341
AuthorsXingting Zhang (0000-0003-1190-5422, Peking University), Dong Wen (0000-0003-3549-3311, Peking University), Jun Liang (0009-0003-2250-2984, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University), Jianbo Lei (0000-0002-1744-0235, Peking University, corresponding author)
Year2017
Volume17
IssueS2
Pages66-66
Publication date2017-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1472-6947 • E-ISSN: 1472-6947
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1186/s12911-017-0470-0
PMID28699549
OpenAlexW2724781627
LanguageEN
Citations received77
References cited8

BACKGROUND: On average, 570 million users, 93% in China's first-tier cities, log on to WeChat every day. WeChat has become the most widely and frequently used social media in China, and has been profoundly integrated into the daily life of many Chinese people. A variety of health-related information may be found on WeChat. The objective of this study is to understand how the general public views the impact of the rapidly emerging social media on health information acquisition. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire was designed, distributed, collected, and analyzed utilizing the online survey tool Sojump. WeChat was adopted to randomly release the questionnaires using convenience sampling and collect the results after a certain amount of time. RESULTS: (1) A total of 1636 questionnaires (WeChat customers) were collected from 32 provinces. (2) The primary means by which respondents received health education was via the Internet (71.79%). Baidu and WeChat were the top 2 search tools utilized (90.71% and 28.30%, respectively). Only 12.41% of respondents were satisfied with their online health information search. (3) Almost all had seen (98.35%) or read (97.68%) health information; however, only 14.43% believed that WeChat health information could improve health. Nearly one-third frequently received and read health information through WeChat. WeChat was selected (63.26%) as the most expected means for obtaining health information. (4) The major concerns regarding health information through WeChat included the following: excessively homogeneous information, the lack of a guarantee of professionalism, and the presence of advertisements. (5) Finally, the general public was most interested in individualized and interactive health information by managing clinicians, they will highly benefit from using social media rather than Internet search tools. CONCLUSIONS: The current state of health acquisition proves worrisome. The public has a high chance to access health information via WeChat. The growing popularity of interactive social platforms (e.g. WeChat) presents a variety of challenges and opportunities with respect to public health acquisition.

China · Health care · Health education · Health information · Homogeneous · HRHIS · Internet privacy · Political science · Public health · Public health informatics · Social media · The Internet · World Wide Web · Computer Science · Data-Driven Disease Surveillance · Health Informatics · Health Literacy and Information Accessibility · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Social Media in Health Education