How Patients Choose a Laryngologist: A Pilot Stated Preference Study
Objective Patients consider many factors when deciding how to receive medical care. This study used best-worst scaling (BWS), a technique novel to otolaryngology, to quantitatively examine preferences among patients choosing a laryngologist. Our objective was to quantify in a pilot cohort the relati...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2021-03-01
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| Series: | OTO Open |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/2473974X21999601 |
| _version_ | 1797668870067060736 |
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| author | Victoria Fischman Eve Wittenberg MPP, PhD Sungjin A. Song MD Molly N. Huston MD Ramon A. Franco MD Phillip C. Song MD Matthew R. Naunheim MD, MBA |
| author_facet | Victoria Fischman Eve Wittenberg MPP, PhD Sungjin A. Song MD Molly N. Huston MD Ramon A. Franco MD Phillip C. Song MD Matthew R. Naunheim MD, MBA |
| author_sort | Victoria Fischman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective Patients consider many factors when deciding how to receive medical care. This study used best-worst scaling (BWS), a technique novel to otolaryngology, to quantitatively examine preferences among patients choosing a laryngologist. Our objective was to quantify in a pilot cohort the relative importance patients place on a variety of attributes when seeking a laryngologist. Study Design BWS survey. Setting Academic voice clinic. Methods New patients were recruited to take a computerized BWS survey developed using attributes derived from patient input, expert opinion, and literature review. Attributes were grouped into 4 categories: physician reputation, physician qualifications, hospital-related factors, and other nonclinical factors. Responses were analyzed using multinomial logit regression to determine importance scores and associations with other variables. Results Eighty-seven of 93 patients recruited participated (93.5% response rate). Physician qualifications were the most important attributes to patients, with specialty laryngology training receiving the highest importance score (20.8; 95% CI, 20.2 to 21.5; P < .0001). Recommendations from referring physicians (15.6; 95% CI, 14.3 to 16.9) and use of cutting-edge technology (11.9; 95% CI, 10.7 to 13.1) were the second and third most important, respectively. Least important were nonclinical factors, including wait time to get an appointment (4.3; 95% CI, 2.8 to 5.8) and convenience of office location (1.5; 95% CI, 0.9 to 2.1). Just over half of patients (51.2%) reported willingness to wait 4 weeks for an appointment with a laryngologist. Older patients were less concerned with convenience-related factors. Conclusion Nonclinical factors were less important to patients than clinical factors, and laryngology-specific training was paramount. Stated preference methodologies can elucidate underlying preferences and help providers make care more patient centered. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T20:35:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ebb5f6adee0b4e73921a435232dff413 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2473-974X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T20:35:47Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | OTO Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-ebb5f6adee0b4e73921a435232dff4132023-10-02T06:45:29ZengWileyOTO Open2473-974X2021-03-01510.1177/2473974X21999601How Patients Choose a Laryngologist: A Pilot Stated Preference StudyVictoria Fischman0Eve Wittenberg MPP, PhD1Sungjin A. Song MD2Molly N. Huston MD3Ramon A. Franco MD4Phillip C. Song MD5Matthew R. Naunheim MD, MBA6Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USAHarvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USADepartment of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USADepartment of Otolaryngology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri, USADepartment of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USADepartment of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USADepartment of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USAObjective Patients consider many factors when deciding how to receive medical care. This study used best-worst scaling (BWS), a technique novel to otolaryngology, to quantitatively examine preferences among patients choosing a laryngologist. Our objective was to quantify in a pilot cohort the relative importance patients place on a variety of attributes when seeking a laryngologist. Study Design BWS survey. Setting Academic voice clinic. Methods New patients were recruited to take a computerized BWS survey developed using attributes derived from patient input, expert opinion, and literature review. Attributes were grouped into 4 categories: physician reputation, physician qualifications, hospital-related factors, and other nonclinical factors. Responses were analyzed using multinomial logit regression to determine importance scores and associations with other variables. Results Eighty-seven of 93 patients recruited participated (93.5% response rate). Physician qualifications were the most important attributes to patients, with specialty laryngology training receiving the highest importance score (20.8; 95% CI, 20.2 to 21.5; P < .0001). Recommendations from referring physicians (15.6; 95% CI, 14.3 to 16.9) and use of cutting-edge technology (11.9; 95% CI, 10.7 to 13.1) were the second and third most important, respectively. Least important were nonclinical factors, including wait time to get an appointment (4.3; 95% CI, 2.8 to 5.8) and convenience of office location (1.5; 95% CI, 0.9 to 2.1). Just over half of patients (51.2%) reported willingness to wait 4 weeks for an appointment with a laryngologist. Older patients were less concerned with convenience-related factors. Conclusion Nonclinical factors were less important to patients than clinical factors, and laryngology-specific training was paramount. Stated preference methodologies can elucidate underlying preferences and help providers make care more patient centered.https://doi.org/10.1177/2473974X21999601 |
| spellingShingle | Victoria Fischman Eve Wittenberg MPP, PhD Sungjin A. Song MD Molly N. Huston MD Ramon A. Franco MD Phillip C. Song MD Matthew R. Naunheim MD, MBA How Patients Choose a Laryngologist: A Pilot Stated Preference Study OTO Open |
| title | How Patients Choose a Laryngologist: A Pilot Stated Preference Study |
| title_full | How Patients Choose a Laryngologist: A Pilot Stated Preference Study |
| title_fullStr | How Patients Choose a Laryngologist: A Pilot Stated Preference Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | How Patients Choose a Laryngologist: A Pilot Stated Preference Study |
| title_short | How Patients Choose a Laryngologist: A Pilot Stated Preference Study |
| title_sort | how patients choose a laryngologist a pilot stated preference study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/2473974X21999601 |
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