%0 Journal Article
%@ 1438-8871
%I JMIR Publications
%V 21
%N 6
%P e11188
%T The Impact of Web-Based Ratings on Patient Choice of a Primary Care Physician Versus a Specialist: Randomized Controlled Experiment
%A Li,Siyue
%A Hubner,Austin
%+ College of Media and International Culture, Zhejiang University, Tianmushan Rd #148, Hangzhou, 310000, China, 86 87951596, siyueaprilli@gmail.com
%K technical skills
%K interpersonal skills
%K physician ratings
%K physician selection
%D 2019
%7 28.06.2019
%9 Original Paper
%J J Med Internet Res
%G English
%X Background: Physician review websites have empowered prospective patients to acquire information about physicians. However, little is known about how Web-based ratings on different aspects of a physician may affect patients’ selection of physicians differently. Objective: The objectives of this study were to examine (1) how patients weigh ratings on a physician’s technical skills and interpersonal skills in their selection of physicians and (2) whether and how people’s choice of a primary care physician versus a specialist is affected differently by Web-based ratings. Methods: A 2×2×2×2 between-subjects experiment was conducted. Over 600 participants were recruited through a crowdsourcing website and randomly assigned to view a mockup physician review Web page that contained information on a physician’s basic information and patients’ ratings. After reviewing the Web page, participants were asked to complete a survey on their perceptions of the physician and willingness to seek health care from the physician. Results: The results showed that participants were more willing to choose a physician with higher ratings on technical skills than on interpersonal skills compared with a physician with higher ratings on interpersonal skills than on technical skills, t369.96=22.36, P<.001, Cohen d=1.22. In the selection of different types of physicians, patients were more likely to choose a specialist with higher ratings on technical skills than on interpersonal skills, compared with a primary care physician with the same ratings, F1,521=5.34, P=.021. Conclusions: The findings suggest that people place more weight on technical skills than interpersonal skills in their selection of a physician based on their ratings on the Web. Specifically, people are more likely to make a compromise on interpersonal skills in their choice of a specialist compared with a primary care physician. This study emphasizes the importance of examining Web-based physician ratings in a more nuanced way in relation to the selection of different types of physicians. Trial Registration: ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN91316463; http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN91316463 
%M 31254337
%R 10.2196/11188
%U http://www.jmir.org/2019/6/e11188/
%U https://doi.org/10.2196/11188
%U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31254337