Variation in Health Blog Features and Elements by Gender, Occupation, and Perspective

39 Pages Posted: 28 Jul 2010

See all articles by Antoinette Pole

Antoinette Pole

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Clancey Batemen

Massachusetts General Hospital

Edward Miller

University of Massachusetts Boston

Date Written: September 2, 2010

Abstract

This study explores whether there are gender and occupational differences in the health blogosphere, and whether there are differences by blogger perspective. Data derive from content analysis of 951 health blogs identified between June 2007 and May 2008. Results indicate that male, physician bloggers were more likely to have blogs that feature a SiteMeter, sponsorship and advertising, which also were more prevalent among those blogging from a professional perspective. Females, those in non-health-related employment, and patient/consumer and caregiver bloggers were more likely to blog about disease and disability, males, the health employed, and professional bloggers about provider experiences, health research/news, and health policy, business, law, and technology. Since the Internet is becoming a primary source of health information, establishing normative guidelines regarding information quality, patient privacy, and conflicts of interest is essential. Future research should build on these findings using national surveys of health bloggers and textual analysis of blog content.

Keywords: blogs, health care, internet

Suggested Citation

Pole, Antoinette and Batemen, Clancey and Miller, Edward Alan, Variation in Health Blog Features and Elements by Gender, Occupation, and Perspective (September 2, 2010). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1649644 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1649644

Antoinette Pole

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

No Address Available

Clancey Batemen

Massachusetts General Hospital

55 Fruit Street
Boston, MA 02114
United States

Edward Alan Miller (Contact Author)

University of Massachusetts Boston ( email )

100 Morrissey Blvd
Boston, MA 02125
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
82
Abstract Views
935
Rank
543,429
PlumX Metrics