Table 1.
Data source platforms.
| Platforms | Data acquisition method | |
| Question & answer search |
|
|
|
|
Baidu Zhidao [16] | Keyword search |
|
|
Sogou Wenwen [17] | Keyword search |
|
|
360 Q&A [18] | Keyword search |
|
|
Iask [19] | Keyword search |
|
|
Baidu Tieba (Hyperlipidemia Tieba) [20] | Keyword search (only topic posts) |
|
|
Zhihu [21] | Keyword search (only question & answer topic posts) |
| Online consultationa |
|
|
|
|
120 Ask [22] | Keyword search |
|
|
Xunyiwenyao (question and answer) [23] | Keyword search |
|
|
99 Health [24] | Keyword search |
|
|
WeDoctor Guahao (need to log in) [25] | Keyword search |
|
|
Qiuyi [26] | Keyword search |
|
|
Family Doctor (Instant ask and answer) [27] | Keyword search |
|
|
Dingxiang Doctor [28] | Keyword search |
|
|
Haodaifu [29] | Keyword search |
|
|
39 Ask [30] | Keyword search |
|
|
Feihua Health (question and answer) [31] | Keyword search |
|
|
Chinakang [32] | Keyword search |
|
|
99 Ask Doctor [33] | Keyword search |
|
|
Chunyu Yisheng [34] | Keyword search |
|
|
Baixing Wen Yisheng [35] | Keyword retrieval after full access to page data |
|
|
China Heart Health (stopped updating after 2014) | Keyword search |
aIn the consultative platforms, it is a general requirement to state all attributes of age, gender, disease status, and medical information.