Quality decisions from physicians’ shared knowledge in virtual communities

Abstract

Physicians strive to reconcile decisions with social capital (SC) within virtual communities explained by Social Capital Theory (SCT)’s dimensions – identity, social interaction ties, and shared language. Thisstudy’s model with six hypotheses, assessestrust’s moderation between SC and knowledge sharing. Knowledge sharing enhances the quality of decision-making. A questionnaire got 204 response from US virtual community physicians. Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modelling revealed that identity negatively influences shared language, interaction ties cannot influence knowledge sharing, though this behaviour enhances the quality of decision-making. Trust positively influences identity and quality in shared knowledge, but negatively influences this behaviour and shared language. Quality in shared knowledge partially mediates identity and quality of decision-making and fully med iates shared language and quality of decision-making. Theoretical and practical implications are reported in this first of its kind study assessing trust moderation and knowledge sharing mediation between SCT and quality of decision-making.