Physician Rating Websites and Use or Non-Use of a Physician After Reading These Reviews

摘要

This study is about use and non-use of a physician after reading physician rating website (PRW) reviews. College students (n=796) were surveyed about demographics, self-rated perceived health, health insurance, recent physician visits, and many PRW review topics. The study found that a number of PRWs read or typically read PRW reviews; trust, behavioral control, and intentions were each positively associated with increased odds for use and non-use of a physician. Women were associated with increased odds for use of a physician. Writing a PRW review was associated with increased odds for non-use of a physician. In conclusion, healthcare organizations and managers of physician practices should encourage patients to write reviews on PRWs with the hope that the majority of the reviews will be positive. As reviews read is a key factor influencing choosing to use and not use a physician, this way there will be a number of reviews for consumers to read.