Influence of physician evaluation portals on orthodontist selection by patients.

OBJECTIVE: This survey aimed to determine the influence of physician evaluation portals (PEP) on a patient's choice of physicians, particularly orthodontists.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Questionnaires were used to collect sociodemographic data, reasons for orthodontist selection, type of Internet use, as well as information on the knowledge, use and evaluation of 14 popular PEPs. A total of 506 questionnaires were evaluated, and a descriptive statistical evaluation was conducted using the χ2 test.

RESULTS: The majority of the respondents selected orthodontists on the basis of personal recommendations by other physicians (35%), family/friends (33%) or patient referral (14%). Currently, the most popular portals in Germany, which are mostly found through Internet searches, are jameda.de (36%) and arztauskunft.de (19%). A total of 5% of the respondents have already used a PEP to evaluate a physician. Moreover, 70% of the respondents described PEPs as helpful, 28% as recommendable and 2% use PEPs regularly. Knowledge of PEPs is correlated with the level of educational attainment (p = 0.024) and the frequency of Internet use (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: On the selection of healthcare providers, particularly orthodontists, PEPs have little influence. Patients select physicians on the basis of personal recommendations. Physicians' concerns about negative evaluations on PEPs are unfounded given the low level of awareness of PEPs by the general populace.