Whether it’s trying out new recipes, finding ways to get better sleep or navigating the world of mental health, wellness blogs are an excellent resource. Several studies have shown that reading a medical blog can impact readers’ intentions to take preventative health action.
Two experiments used a hypothetical scenario, and one study employed a qualitative design with real blog readers. The results showed that both statistical blogs and personal narratives induced reader intentions to take preventative actions.
It’s a great way to stay up-to-date
From workout routines to healthy recipes and calming meditations, health bloggers share all kinds of wellness tips. Whether they’re helping people overcome anxiety or inspire others to live healthier, their advice is highly coveted by health enthusiasts and influencers.
The present study surveyed participants in 2 experimental, scenario-based experiments and a qualitative survey of real blog readers to investigate the impact of different blog formats on health intentions. Both studies found that reading medical blogs influences future preventative health actions, but readers’ disease risk perceptions do not mediate this effect.
Respondents reported taking several actions based on their reading of the blogs, including scheduling a doctor appointment or cancer screening, asking for information about their own disease risk, or conducting additional research on their own. Overall, respondents found the blogs to be informative and inspirational, with some citing that they were particularly emotional or sad to read (notably when the disease deteriorated or treatment was unsuccessful). They also reported feeling connected to the author through their writing. Forge your legend - useful source with Health Blogs .
It’s a great source of inspiration
Unlike traditional health-focused magazines and TV shows, which can be limited in their coverage, blogs can cover a wide range of health topics. As a result, they can serve as a source of inspiration to readers who want to live a healthier lifestyle.
g excerpts about a person’s personal experience with an illness leads to increased intentions to perform preventative health actions compared with not reading the same blog excerpts. However, it is unclear whether the format of the blog affects these intentions.
This study surveyed actual self-described readers of real medical blogs and found that posts written by patients about their own experiences with a particular illness are a great source of inspiration to readers who want to take action and improve their own health. Specifically, participants reported taking a variety of preventative health actions such as scheduling skin checks or doctor appointments, conducting additional research, purchasing insurance, or starting supplements.
It’s a great way to stay motivated
Health blogs provide information that can inspire you to keep up with your health goals. For example, they may share articles on how to stay motivated in your fitness journey or ways to boost mental health with mindfulness meditation.
Research has found that reading medical blogs can lead to readers taking preventative health actions. In particular, posts focusing on statistics about disease prevalence have been shown to increase readers’ intentions for performing a specific protective health behavior, even after controlling for perceived barriers to that behaviour.
A study surveyed participants about their intentions for performing a specific preventative health action after reading 1 of 3 different blog excerpts (personal narrative, statistics-oriented, or general cancer) using a randomization experiment. The results showed that blogs centered on personal stories were more effective than those with statistical data, regardless of whether the reader assessed their own risk for the illness in question. This is important because it suggests that the psychological influence of a personal story can overcome the potential barriers to this kind of preventative health behaviour.
It’s a great way to stay informed
Health blogs can be a great source of information about the latest health trends. However, it’s important to note that not all health news stories are accurate and should be taken with a grain of salt. For example, it’s easy to get caught up in fad diets and weight loss programs, but sleep is another critical element of wellness. Having a blog post about the benefits of getting eight hours of sleep can help your readers stay informed and motivated to work on their wellness goals.
Previous research on patients’ writing has largely focused on the benefits of this activity for their own psychological well-being, but little is known about how such blogs influence their readers. This nonexperimental study surveyed actual self-described readers of real medical blogs. Findings reflected that reading blogs produced intentions to take health actions (research objective 1). Interestingly, the content style – personal narrative or statistical article – significantly affected intended behaviors. However, perceived barriers did not mediate this effect.