Online Health Information: A Preference Model Analysis Among Social Media Users In Ghana

ABSTRACT With the explosion of information on the web, the internet has become the reserve for all kinds of information connecting individuals to health content, expertise and support. Majority of people are turning to social media and other internet platforms to seek for health information and experiences. However, anyone can post health content on the web regardless of their professional background or expertise, medical qualifications or intentions raising concerns about the quality of information being churned out on health topics on social media. In spite of that, the online health information seeker, whether knowledgeable or not, remains the primary decision maker who determines the quality or otherwise of the information they consume. The objective of this study, therefore, was to understand the thought processes of Social Media Online Health Information Seekers (SMOHIS) regarding the criteria they use in determining quality online health information and the trade-offs they make in the decisionmaking processes. Focus is given to differences in preferences across various demographic groups. The conjoint analysis method of the Random Utility theory was chosen as the framework for the study. The results from the study suggests that Peer review, which refers to the number of the number of likes, shares and comments a social media health information post has, was the most preferred attribute, followed by Credibility which assures users of the source or authorship of the information shared and its currency. The Interactivity attribute, which refers to the responsiveness of the social media page sharing health information, was the second least preferred and Content was the least preferred among the set of attributes. The results from the study provides a proposed framework that Social Media Online Health Information seekers in xi Ghana should consider before consuming health information. Additionally, the results of the research draws the attention of policy makers to the fact that sourcing OHI on social media and the web has come to stay in Ghana and therefore, various measures should be put in place to regulate the quality of social media health information.