Cross-Sectional Analysis of Online Patient Reviews of Fertility Care Providers

Division

North Florida

Hospital

Osceola Regional Medical Center

Document Type

Manuscript

Publication Date

7-25-2020

Keywords

infertility, patient reviews, physician ratings, mandated insurance

Disciplines

Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications | Male Urogenital Diseases | Obstetrics and Gynecology | Other Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

Objective

To observe the effects of practice type, location and mandated insurance coverage on infertility physician online reviews by patients.

Design

Retrospective cohort study

Setting

Online

Patients

Patient online reviews of fertility specialists between 2016-2019

Interventions

None

Main Outcome Measures

The analysis consisted of the average rating out of 5 for each physician published on Vitals, RateMD, and Healthgrades.

Results

Data was collected on 1,097 specialists. For physicians practicing in states with vs. without mandated insurance coverage, they received an average rating of 4.093 vs. 4.076, respectively (p = 0.762). The average rating was 3.964 for physicians affiliated with a university or hospital vs. 4.128 for those working in a private practice (p = 0.011). A significant difference in physician ratings was found between the four regions (p<0.001). It was revealed that physicians who practiced in the South region (4.22+/-0.85, N=354) received significantly higher mean average ratings (p<0.01) than those in the Northeast (3.99+/-0.93, N=327) and Midwest region (3.91+/-1.01, N=175). Physicians practicing in the West region (4.14+/-0.95, N=241) received significantly higher ratings (p<0.05) than those in the Midwest region (3.91+/-1.01, N=175).

Conclusions

The average online patient rating of infertility specialists was found to be significantly higher for physicians working in a private practice compared to those affiliated with a university or hospital system. No significant difference was found between the average rating in states with vs. without mandated insurance coverage for infertility treatment. We propose that qualities other than patient financial responsibility are implicated in the factors used to rate physicians.

Publisher or Conference

F&S Reports

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