Boston-based Harvard Medical School researchers studied the effect of online ratings on both physicians and patients, according to News-Medical LifeSciences.
The researchers sent surveys to physicians and patients at four hospitals in a Massachusetts ACO. The online survey received answers from 828 physicians and the mailed survey received answers from 494 patients.
Journal of General Internal Medicine published the study.
Here are five insights:
1. Of the physician respondents, 53 percent noted they had read reviews about themselves online.
2. Thirty-nine percent of the patients reported they search for comments on their physicians online. The study found younger people, women and people with college educations were more likely to search for reviews.
3. Patients reported they were more likely to search for comments on independent sites, like Healthgrades.com, whereas physicians said they trusted information on health system websites.
4. Seventy-eight percent of physicians said the potential of receiving poor online reviews adds stress to their jobs.
5. Of physician respondents, 46 percent said online reviews could hurt the physician-patient relationship.