Metaphor Diffusion in Online Health Communities: Infodemiology Study in a Stroke Online Health Community

Metaphors that are considered helpful by patients with stroke to come to terms with their symptoms can diffuse in OHCs through both self-promotion and social (or viral) spreading, with the main driver of diffusion being the superuser trait. Lurking activity (the most common behavior in OHCs) contributed to the diffusion of information. As an increasing number of patients with long-term conditions join OHCs to find others with similar health-related concerns, improving clinicians' and researchers' awareness of the diffusion of metaphors that facilitate self-management in health social media may be beneficial beyond the individual patient.