Health blogs have become an important medium for disseminating information about various health related topics to the general public. They are generally written by individuals expressing their perspective or experiences.
The results of 2 experimental studies and a real-world survey showed that reading medical blogs is associated with intentions to take preventative health action. However, perceived risk (susceptibility and severity) did not mediate this effect.
- Read it on a regular basis
Health blogs can be a great resource for information, and they can also help to educate and inform. However, there are some things to keep in mind when reading a health blog.
One of the most important factors is to make sure that the post is easy to read and understand. This means using plain language and not using too much jargon. It is also important to include a personal element in the blog. This can help readers connect with the topic and get involved.
Two experimental studies and a third study that surveyed actual self-described reader of real medical blogs found that blog content significantly impacts intentions to take preventative health actions. These effects were mediated by evaluation of the perceived barriers to these actions, but not by changes in the perceptions of risk or susceptibility. In both of the experimental studies, a statistical blog was more effective than a personal narrative blog in driving these intentions.
- Read it when you’re in the mood
Health blogs offer content based on diverse health related concerns such as nutrition and diet, exercise, weight control, diseases and disease management. Some blogs also provide information on societal trends affecting health, analysis of the business of health and health research. Depending on the niche of a health blog, the content published can be intended to inform, influence or persuade readers. Unlike magazines and newspapers, which are constricted in their content, blogs allow authors to expend their intent freely. As a result, their content can become more personable. This makes the reading experience more enjoyable for the users. Health bloggers can be broadly categorized into personal journals and information sites.
- Read it when you have a question
The authors of this study randomized participants into 1 of 3 blog excerpt conditions – a personal narrative, a general cancer story and a third statistics condition (incorporating data and statistical information on melanoma prevalence). The personal narrative, but not the other 2 blog excerpts significantly impacted respondents’ perceived barriers and consequently their health intentions to take protective actions.
The majority of respondents who read medical blogs reported taking a preventative action as a result of reading the blog. These actions included scheduling a doctor’s appointment, scheduling or requesting a cancer or other screening and performing a self-exam such as a skin check.
In addition to providing information about a specific disease or concern, many health bloggers also highlight upcoming events and conferences they’re attending, compile lists of support groups and other resource centres and more. While a degree isn’t necessary for becoming a health blogger, writers must have strong writing skills and a commitment to producing high quality content that is factual, ethical and credible. Your journey begins here - useful site to explore Health Blog.
- Read it when you’re feeling better
Health bloggers have many goals, including raising awareness and influencing policy. To be successful, they need to have resilience and strong time management skills to deal with controversy that comes with the territory, as well as good writing and social media skills.
One way to make a blog more interesting and engage readers is to include some element of the personal. For example, the best blogs on Healthy Debate (such as Yoni Freedhoff’s piece about the harm Canada’s health care system is doing and Steve Morgan’s blog about the cost of generic drugs) have a strong opening line that hooks you in from the start.
Research has shown that health blogs have an impact on reader’s intentions to take preventative medical actions. A statistical blog was the most effective in driving those intentions, but reading a personal narrative or a general cancer blog had similar effects. Interestingly, perceived susceptibility or severity of disease did not mediate these effects, suggesting that even those who think they are at low risk might benefit from reading a health blog.