Most Americans know physician ratings and reviews are available online, and about one in four use them when choosing a provider, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The results were based on a September 2012 survey of 2,137 U.S. adults. Other key findings from the survey include:
- 40 percent of respondents said online reviews were "very important" to them, though other factors, including recommendations from friends and family, were cited more often as "very important" to choosing a physician.
- 65 percent of respondents said they were aware physician reviews and ratings were available online. However, more respondents were aware of online ratings for cars (87 percent) and service providers outside the healthcare industry (71 percent).
- Among the 25 percent of respondents who used the online ratings, 35 percent said they had selected a physician based on positive reviews and 37 percent said they had avoided a physician based on poor reviews.
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