Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to health. A health blog can be a valuable resource to help people learn about a medical condition or its treatment. Research shows that reading patient-created content can increase intentions to take preventative health actions such as scheduling skin checks or doctor appointments. This impact is independent of perceived risk.
Easy to Understand
Health blogs often include step-by-step tips for patients to follow, detailed explanations of medical procedures and a glossary of industry jargon. These are valuable tools for patients who want to be proactive about their health and avoid making mistakes that could put them at greater risk of disease.
Studies have shown that reading patient blogs significantly influences readers’ intentions to take preventative health actions, and these effects do not appear to be mediated by their evaluation of disease risk perceptions or beliefs. In 2 experimental scenarios, participants were randomly assigned to read one of 3 sample cancer blogs (a personal narrative, a story with statistical data about melanoma, or a general story) and then completed a survey about their preventative health intentions. Many study participants cited wanting to stay updated about their friend’s illness and provide support as the main motivation for reading a medical blog. Others found the writing emotional and informative, inspiring them to schedule a doctor’s appointment or request a skin screening, do additional research on their own, or make donations to organizations that promote prevention.
Easy to Retain
Blogging is a fast way to keep up with health trends and new medical research. Blogs can provide step-by-step tips and detailed explanations of medical procedures to help people take charge of their own health.
A good health blog will hook readers from the beginning by using a powerful quote, surprising statistic, or compelling medical scenario. They should also use short sentences and avoid jargon. If you’re concerned about whether your health blog is accessible enough, ask a friend who doesn’t have any technical training to read it and give you feedback. Across 3 studies—2 experimental scenario-based studies and 1 qualitative study with real blog readers—reading patient blogs was associated with intentions to perform future preventative health actions, such as skin checks or doctor visits. Blog type (personal narrative, statistics condition) was found to impact these intentions, but not perceptions of risk susceptibility or severity. The statistic-oriented blog condition was especially effective, though. These results indicate that medical blogs may be more effective at driving preventative health behaviors than previous media sources.
Helps You Take Charge of Your Health
Health and wellness blogs may offer reassuring news about treatment options or share testimonials from patients who have overcome a health challenge. These blogs help readers realize that they are not alone and that they can take control of their own health through self-care, even if they don’t have the resources or support system of others.
In 2 scenario-based experimental studies, participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 blog conditions: a personal narrative, a story with statistical data about disease prevalence, and a general cancer-related blog. The blogs were evaluated on 7-point bipolar scales for being easy to read and understand, informative, interesting, and emotional. Across both experiments, reading medical blogs significantly impacted intentions to take future preventative health actions (e.g., scheduling skin checks, asking doctors about risk), regardless of perceived risk. Readers of these blogs were motivated to take action by seeing that others had done it successfully and because they wanted to prevent the negative effects of their own untreated health challenges. Those that need to comprehend Health Blog, they will website here.
Helps You Take Charge of Your Life
Health blogs offer an intimate way to share the story of a specific medical issue and help readers understand how it can affect them. A personal story that is well-written and believable can inspire readers to take action.
Research shows that reading patient-created content (such as a wellness blog) can increase intentions to perform preventative medical actions such as scheduling skin checks or doctor appointments. In one study, participants were surveyed regarding their intentions following exposure to a medical blog written in 3 different conditions: personal narratives, general cancer stories and a wellness blog that included statistical information about melanoma. Each of these blog excerpts increased intentions to perform health-related activities, but the blog with statistics was especially effective at driving this intention.
Whether it’s a heart-warming story about someone who has overcome an obstacle or startling stats about the prevalence of a disease, good medical writing is easy to understand and retain. This is a key factor in a successful health blog that encourages people to be proactive about their health.
