title: Examination of centrality in a health social network.
abstract: Growing importance of health information platforms are acknowledges in recent studies. Such platforms are subject to discussion about an extent to which social network characteristics are realized. The platform under examination indeed demonstrates social network peculiarities. In this work, we explore the nature of centrality in one of the leading health information networks in Europe. Among other findings, we identify two nodes (representing patient and physician) are as the most important people in the network in terms of structural analysis Egregiously, these nodes are connected with the other types only and exhibit worth noticing connection patterns. These connections have been discussed along with a medication advice seeking behavior.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Kadir Has University, Istanbul.
authors.forename: Semiha N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Alaşan
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Kadir Has University, Istanbul.
authors.forename: Kamran E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Sayin
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Kadir Has University, Istanbul.
authors.forename: Mehmet N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Aydin
mesh_terms: D063005:Health Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D007255:Information Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010820:Physicians / Q000458:organization & administration*; D061108:Social Media / Q000458:organization & administration*; D060756:Social Networking; D012944:Social Support; D014421:Turkey