Investigating Innovation Diffusion in Gender-Specific Medicine: Insights from Social Network Analysis

Katharina Baum (), Annika Baumann and Katharina Batzel
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Katharina Baum: Vienna University of Business and Economics
Annika Baumann: Weizenbaum Institute for the Networked Society
Katharina Batzel: Accenture

Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, 2024, vol. 66, issue 3, No 6, 335-355

Abstract: Abstract The field of healthcare is characterized by constant innovation, with gender-specific medicine emerging as a new subfield that addresses sex and gender disparities in clinical manifestations, outcomes, treatment, and prevention of disease. Despite its importance, the adoption of gender-specific medicine remains understudied, posing potential risks to patient outcomes due to a lack of awareness of the topic. Building on the Innovation Decision Process Theory, this study examines the spread of information about gender-specific medicine in online networks. The study applies social network analysis to a Twitter dataset reflecting online discussions about the topic to gain insights into its adoption by health professionals and patients online. Results show that the network has a community structure with limited information exchange between sub-communities and that mainly medical experts dominate the discussion. The findings suggest that the adoption of gender-specific medicine might be in its early stages, focused on knowledge exchange. Understanding the diffusion of gender-specific medicine among medical professionals and patients may facilitate its adoption and ultimately improve health outcomes.

Keywords: Health data; Gender-specific medicine; Social network analysis; Diffusion of innovations; Twitter (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1007/s12599-024-00875-6

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