How does review content contribute to the patients’ review helpfulness in online health communities?

Abstract

This study examines the effects of review content on review helpfulness in OHCs by focusing on two variables: sentiment and informational support description. Given that review helpfulness is a truncated variable, we employ Tobit regression models to evaluate the effects. The results indicate that both positive and negative sentiment contribute to review helpfulness. Moreover, there exists a positive association between informational support description and review helpfulness. When affecting review helpfulness, informational support description negatively moderates the impact of sentiment on review helpfulness.