Effectiveness of Online Community User Response Types in Alleviating Pregnancy-Related Concerns

Abstract

This study explored the effectiveness of answers provided in online question-and-answer (Q/A) communities for alleviating pregnant women’s concerns using medical knowledge, personal experience, and empathic messages. A total of 103 Japanese women who had experienced childbirth completed an online survey, including the presentation of one question related to labor pain and four simulated answers. The simulated answers were based on personal experience, medical knowledge, personal experience + empathic message, and medical knowledge + empathic message. The test indicated that answers based on medical knowledge were more effective in addressing what pregnant women want to know than those based on personal experience. Furthermore, the addition of an empathic message to medical knowledge was more effective in alleviating pregnancy-related concerns than medical knowledge alone. In light of the above, access to reliable information is important; thus, Q/A communities should cater to such needs.