How Experts’ Use of Medical Technical Jargon in Different Types of Online Health Forums Affects Perceived Information Credibility: Randomized Experiment With Laypersons

Background Online health forums are widely used, but the quality of advice differs as much as the knowledge backgrounds of the audience members who receive the advice. It is important to understand how people judge the information given online. In line with the communication accommodation theory (CAT), online forums represent specific social contexts of communication which can present either accommodative or nonaccommodative language to an audience. Accordingly, use of accommodative or nonaccommodative language might affect people’s perceived trust in the communicator. Objective The objective of this study was to investigate how experts who use accommodative (vs nonaccommodative) language are evaluated by passive users of an online forum. Methods Participants (n=98) took part in an online experiment and read experts’ posts about 10 nutrition myths. Following a 2 x 2 mixed design, experts’ posts were written using either low or high amounts of medical technical jargon (MTJ) (within factor) and were directed at different audiences (mainly other medical experts [in a professional forum] vs a user group mainly comprising laypersons [in an advisory forum]) (between factor). Accommodation occurred where experts used high amounts of MTJ to address other medical experts in the professional forum; it also occurred when experts used low amounts of MTJ to address laypersons in the advisory forum. Conversely, nonaccommodation occurred when experts used high amounts of MTJ in the advisory forum and low amounts of MTJ in the professional forum. In each condition, participants evaluated the credibility of the information, the trustworthiness of the experts, and the accommodation by the experts. Results Overall, participants judged the credibility of information to be higher when experts used MTJ that was accommodative to the designated audience, F1,95=3.10, P=.04, ηp2=.031. In addition, participants judged the experts in professional forums to be more trustworthy than experts in advisory forums (all F1,96≥3.54, P ≤.03, ηp2≥.036). Moreover, participants rated experts who used high amounts of MTJ to have higher competence (F1,96=37.54, P<.001, ηp2=.28], lower integrity (F1,96=10.77, P=.001, ηp2=.101), and lower benevolence (F1,96=9.75, P=.002, ηp2=.092), as well as to have lower perceived accommodation to the audience (all F1,96≥72.17, P<.001, ηp2≥.43) compared with experts who used low MTJ. Conclusions To provide health information online that is perceived as credible, experts should consider using similar language as the language used by the addressed audience. As it is often impossible to determine the exact makeup of an online audience, further research might investigate whether having experts explicitly declare which audience they intend to address can help people to more reliably assess an expert’s trustworthiness. Furthermore, as people assess information differently depending on the context of online communication, it would be valuable for research to consider other aspects of the context beyond those of the audience.

Caffeine, contained in coffee, has a central stimulating effect, like other purine bases, and is said to have many positive and negative somatic characteristics.
There are longitudinal studies that identify a 16% reduced risk of being affected by Alzheimer's disease (varies in German: Morbus Alzheimer). However, it is still unclear, if caffeine alone is responsible for it or if other ingredients and factors are perhaps also relevant. Coffee can therefore only possible reduce the risk. In particular, there is not sufficient evidence.
Caffeine, contained in coffee, has a stimulating effect in the brain, like other building blocks of DNA, and is said to have many positive and negative physical characteristics. There are long-term studies to it. These identify a 16% reduced risk of being affected by Alzheimer's disease (varies in German: Krankheit Alzheimer). However, it is still unclear, if caffeine alone is responsible for it or if other components and factors are perhaps also important. Coffee can therefore only possible lower the risk. In particular, there is not sufficient evidence.

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To the question of an effect of low salt diet, this expert answered: There is some evidence that low-sodium nutrition works especially antihypertensive, wherefore it shall be assumed that arterial hypertension can lead to angiocardiopathy in the long run.
The WHO recommends to lower the daily intake of sodium chloride by 6 gram. Therefore, the systolic blood pressure is supposed to lower from five to six milliliters and the diastolic one from one to three milliliters. This effect would then be comparable to a weight reduction.
There is some evidence that low-sodium diet lowers blood pressure. Therefore, it shall be assumed that high blood pressure can lead to heart-diseases and diseased blood vessels in the long run. The WHO recommends to lower the daily intake of table salt by 6 gram. Therefore, the high blood pressure is supposed to lower from five to six milliliters and the low one from one to three milliliters. This effect would then be comparable to a weight loss.

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To the question, if drinking light-lemonade harms, this expert answered: It is known that persons who often drink beverages with aspartame or cyclamate are more likely to get diabetes mellitus over a long period of time than those who rarely or never drink such drinks, but it cannot be said certainly if these ingredients are responsible for it. Possibly humans prefer light drinks if they have a disposition to adipositas.
It is known that persons who often drink beverages with sweeteners are more likely to get diabetes over a long period of time than those who rarely or never drink such drinks. But it cannot be said certainly if these additives are responsible for it.
Possibly humans favour light drinks if they have a tendency to overweight.
To the question, of an effect of vitamin products, this expert answered: Vitamins are indeed organic components that are not synthesize sufficiently by humans and need to be taken in with the food in micro-quantities. Calciferol is the only exception, it is endogenously synthesized. In industrial nations a sufficient supply for healthy persons is usually ensured through the extensive food offers. Hypervitaminosis can instead, depending on the vitamin, lead to different negative effects. And chronical intoxication could be caused by supplementation.
Vitamins are indeed organic components. These are not produced sufficiently by humans and need to be taken in with the food in microquantities. Vitamin D is the only exception, it is produced in the body. In industrial nations a sufficient supply for healthy persons is usually ensured through extra rich food offers.
Overhang of vitamins can instead, depending on the vitamin, lead to different negative effects.
And long poisoning could be caused by addition.

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To the question of harmfulness of eggs, this expert answered: Likely, this only applies to few people. The yolk is not only quite lipidcontaining, it also contains much cholesterol in particular. A medium-sized egg of 60 g weight provides already 270 mg of the fat-accompanying substance. A correlation between the risk for cardiovascular diseases (varies in German: kardiovaskuläre Erkrankungen) and the consumption of eggs, e.g. in terms of lipaemia, could not be determined in any big observational study (varies in German: Observationsstudie). Whereas there are indicates for diabetics to such a correlation between the consumption of eggs and cardiovascular diseases (varies in German: kardiovaskuläre Erkrankungen).
Likely, this only applies to few people. The yolk is not only quite high in fat. It also contains much cholesterol in particular. A medium-sized egg of 60 g weight provides already 270 mg of the fat-accompanying substance. A relation between the risk for cardiovascular diseases (varies in German: Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen) and the consumption of eggs, e.g. in terms of high fat content in the blood, could not be determined in any big observational study (varies in German: Beobachtungsstudie) Whereas there are indicates for diabetics to such a connection between the consumption of eggs and cardiovascular diseases (varies in German: Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen).

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To the question of a connection between olive oil and heart diseases, this expert answered: The regular ingestion of extra virgin olive oils can possibly prevent myocardial infarctions. Extra virgin olive oil contains higher proportions of desired ingredients like tocopherols, carotenoids and phytosterols, but also higher rates of environmental pollutants like Sulphur (varies in German: Sulfur) and pesticides. The ingredients tyrosol and 3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid showed in in vitro investigations reduced secretion of cytokines (in German: Zytokinen), however, direct proof to myocardial infarctions cannot be provided yet.
The regular consumption of extra virgin olive oils can possibly prevent heart attacks. Extra virgin olive oil contains higher proportions of desired components like vitamin E, precursors of vitamin A and cholesterollowering sterols, but also higher rates of environmental pollutants like Sulphur (varies in German: Schwefel) and chemicals for pest control. The components tyrosol and caffeic acid showed in test tube investigations reduced secretion of egg white which regulates inflammation (in German: entzündungsregulierende Eiweiße). However, direct proof to heart attacks cannot be provided yet.

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To the question of what happens to a chewing gum when it reaches the bowel, this expert answered: The aspiration of a chewing gum per day is considered harmless, because a chewing gum consists in its basic substance of indigestible isobutylene plastics. But it is simply eliminated, like everything the gastrointestinal system (varies in German: gastrointestinale System) cannot use. The chewing gum does not adhere to the body, because the milieu in the gastrointestinal tract is humid and the secretion works as a lubricant. It was merely described a agglutination to a bigger ball when small children took in and aspirated bigger amounts of chewing gums. This needed to ektomized of the rectum from a gastroenterologist.
The swallowing of a chewing gum per day is considered harmless. Hence, a chewing gum consists in its basic component of indigestible plastics. But it is simply eliminated, like everything the gastrointestinal system (varies in German: Magen-Darm-Trakt) cannot use. The chewing gum does not adhere to the body, because the milieu in the gastrointestinal tract is moist and the mucus works as a lubricant. It was merely described a clumping to a bigger ball when small children took in and swallowed bigger amounts of chewing gums. This needed to be removed of the hindgut from a doctor.

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To the question, if cheese closes the stomach, this expert answered: Indeed, cheese does not support the digestion (varies in German: Digestion) or block the pars cardiaca, but you are filled faster when you eat Gouda or Camembert. Responsible for this are monocarboxylic acids and proteins that are contained in cheese. Fatty foods are more difficult to digest (varies in German: digerieren), therefore it takes longer. As a result, a feeling of fullness is triggered in the ventromedial hypothalamus. The gastrointestinal system also sends a feeling of hunger to the lateral hypothalamus later. Cheese therefore does close the stomach in a figurative sense by triggering the release of neurotransmitters for a longer time.
Indeed, cheese does not support the digestion (varies in German: Verdauung) or block the stomach entrance, but you are filled faster when you eat Gouda or Camembert. Responsible for this are essential fatty acids and egg whites that are contained in cheese.
Fatty foods are more difficult to digest (varies in German: verdauen), therefore it takes longer. As a result, a feeling of fullness is triggered in the satiety center in the brain. The digestive also sends a feeling of hunger to the appestat in the brain later. Cheese therefore does close the stomach in a figurative sense by triggering the release of biochemical messengers for a longer time.

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To the question of pretzel sticks and cola, this expert answered: Because cola consists of considerable parts of saccharin, the body is additionally dehydrated causing an acute dehydration when having a lasting disease. Furthermore, cola contains lots of methyltherobromine.
Although it awakes you, it stimulates the kidney (varies in German: Renes). The effect is that the body eliminates more potassium than it actual should. Even the popular combination "cola with pretzel sticks" does not change anything. Since pretzel sticks only contain sodium chloride and cannot fix the hypokalemia.
Because cola consists of considerable parts of sugar, the body is additionally dehydrated. This causes a rapid drying when having a lasting disease. Furthermore, cola contains lots of caffeine. Although it awakes you, it stimulates the kidney (varies in German: Niere). The effect is that the body eliminates more potassium than it actual should. Even the popular mixture "cola with pretzel sticks" does not change anything. Since pretzel sticks only contain table salt and cannot fix the potassium deficiency.
To the question of a connection between healthy nutrition and the protection of cancer, this expert answered: A balanced nutrition, sufficient movement and a normal weight reduce the risk to develop malignancy and cardiovascular diseases (varies in German: kardiovaskuläre Erkrankungen), obesity, arterial hypertonia, diabetes mellitus (varies in German: Diabetes Mellitus), and malignancies occur rarer to people who are living on a healthy diet. Investigations show that nutrition plays an essential role in the prophylaxis of malignancy.
Avoiding obesity is at least equally important.
A balanced nutrition, enough movement and a normal weight lower the risk to develop cancer. And cardiovascular diseases (varies in German: Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankgungen), overweight, high blood pressure, diabetes (varies in German: Zuckerkrankheit), and cancer occur rarer to people who are living on a healthy diet. Investigations show that nutrition plays an essential role in the prevention of cancer. Avoiding overweight is at least equally important.