How familiar are orthopaedic patients with physician review websites?

Background: Physician-rating websites (PRWs) are gaining popularity in the healthcare sector’s shift towards patient-centered, value-based care. Limited studies explore patient-facing factors affecting PRW knowledge and usage and the influence of PRWs on patient decision-making. This study aims to: 1) Assess the prevalence of patient familiarity and use of PRWs in orthopaedic care. 2) Examine factors linked to PRW knowledge and usage. 3) Investigate if PRW use affects a patient’s choice of surgeon. Methods: Survey administration was performed at three outpatient orthopaedic multi-specialty. Patients were asked about demographic characteristics, their familiarity with PRWs, their use of PRWs, and how PRWs have influenced their decision to see their surgeon. Results: In total, 350 patients completed the survey, with 155 patients (44%) reported being somewhat (31%) or very (13%) familiar with PRWs, and 64 of these patients (41%) consulted at least one PRW prior to the visit. Patients most familiar with PRWs were between 45-64 yr old ( P =0.02), women ( P <0.01), had graduate/professional degrees ( P <0.01), and seen by adult reconstruction surgeons ( P =0.02). Seventy-two percent of patients using PRWs said these sites influenced their choice of healthcare provider, with 93% valuing ratings and reviews the most. Conclusion: While many patients were unfamiliar with and didn’t use PRWs before their visit, around three-quarters of those who used PRWs stated that the ratings influenced their choice of an orthopaedic specialist. As PRW utilization grows, understanding factors influencing patient decision-making becomes crucial for surgeons and administrators.