Why are so few patients rating their physicians on German physician rating websites? A qualitative study
Abstract Background Physician rating websites (PRWs) allow patients to rate, comment and discuss physicians’ quality online as a source of information for others searching for a physician. It is generally assumed that PRWs will only be helpful for users, and fair for the rated, if there are a high n...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-018-3492-0 |
| _version_ | 1818573173692563456 |
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| author | Stuart McLennan Daniel Strech Hannes Kahrass |
| author_facet | Stuart McLennan Daniel Strech Hannes Kahrass |
| author_sort | Stuart McLennan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Physician rating websites (PRWs) allow patients to rate, comment and discuss physicians’ quality online as a source of information for others searching for a physician. It is generally assumed that PRWs will only be helpful for users, and fair for the rated, if there are a high number of ratings. However, the number of ratings on PRWs remains low internationally and there is currently a lack of research examining the reasons why patients are not rating their physicians. The aim of this study is to therefore identify the spectrum of factors influencing people’s willingness to rate their physician on PRWs. Methods A mailed cross-sectional survey sent to a random sample from 4 North German cities between April and July 2016. Fifty participants who had previously used PRWs but not rated a physician provided reasons for why that had not rated a physician in a free text response. Semi-structured qualitative telephone interviews were then conducted with 22 interested participants to explore factors influencing their willingness to rate their physician on PRWs in more detail. Results Participants identified a total of 21 distinct incentives and disincentives for rating physicians on PRWs, which could be further categorised under the headings: user-specific, PRW-specific and physician-specific. Two key overarching groups of factors emerged: (1) factors concerning the physician-patient relationship, and (2) factors issues regarding technical aspects of PRWs. Conclusion These findings will be helpful in guiding future research and health policy initiatives to increase the usefulness and fairness of PRWs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-15T00:07:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-96c1aacc178c41099be62dfb061c2bdb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-15T00:07:32Z |
| publishDate | 2018-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-96c1aacc178c41099be62dfb061c2bdb2022-12-21T22:42:41ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632018-08-011811910.1186/s12913-018-3492-0Why are so few patients rating their physicians on German physician rating websites? A qualitative studyStuart McLennan0Daniel Strech1Hannes Kahrass2Institute for Biomedical Ethics, University of BaselBerlin Institute of Health, Quest Center for Transforming Biomedical ResearchInstitute for History, Ethics and Philosophy of Medicine, Hannover Medical SchoolAbstract Background Physician rating websites (PRWs) allow patients to rate, comment and discuss physicians’ quality online as a source of information for others searching for a physician. It is generally assumed that PRWs will only be helpful for users, and fair for the rated, if there are a high number of ratings. However, the number of ratings on PRWs remains low internationally and there is currently a lack of research examining the reasons why patients are not rating their physicians. The aim of this study is to therefore identify the spectrum of factors influencing people’s willingness to rate their physician on PRWs. Methods A mailed cross-sectional survey sent to a random sample from 4 North German cities between April and July 2016. Fifty participants who had previously used PRWs but not rated a physician provided reasons for why that had not rated a physician in a free text response. Semi-structured qualitative telephone interviews were then conducted with 22 interested participants to explore factors influencing their willingness to rate their physician on PRWs in more detail. Results Participants identified a total of 21 distinct incentives and disincentives for rating physicians on PRWs, which could be further categorised under the headings: user-specific, PRW-specific and physician-specific. Two key overarching groups of factors emerged: (1) factors concerning the physician-patient relationship, and (2) factors issues regarding technical aspects of PRWs. Conclusion These findings will be helpful in guiding future research and health policy initiatives to increase the usefulness and fairness of PRWs.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-018-3492-0Physician rating websitesPatient satisfaction |
| spellingShingle | Stuart McLennan Daniel Strech Hannes Kahrass Why are so few patients rating their physicians on German physician rating websites? A qualitative study BMC Health Services Research Physician rating websites Patient satisfaction |
| title | Why are so few patients rating their physicians on German physician rating websites? A qualitative study |
| title_full | Why are so few patients rating their physicians on German physician rating websites? A qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Why are so few patients rating their physicians on German physician rating websites? A qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Why are so few patients rating their physicians on German physician rating websites? A qualitative study |
| title_short | Why are so few patients rating their physicians on German physician rating websites? A qualitative study |
| title_sort | why are so few patients rating their physicians on german physician rating websites a qualitative study |
| topic | Physician rating websites Patient satisfaction |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-018-3492-0 |
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