[Google Reviews: a descriptive study of 700 orthodontic practices]

Area of Science:

• Dental Public Health
• Online Reputation Management
• Healthcare Consumer Behavior

Background:

• Online reviews are increasingly prevalent in healthcare, mirroring trends in other sectors.
• Understanding patient perceptions of orthodontic practices through online reviews is crucial for practice management and patient engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe internet ratings and opinions for orthodontic practices in France.
• To identify factors influencing the number of Google reviews and the overall practice rating.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive study analyzing Google reviews for 700 orthodontic specialists in mainland France.
• Quantitative analysis of review volume, star ratings, comment content, and practitioner response rates.

Main Results:

• 87% of practices had at least one review, with an average of 9.6 comments per office.
• The average star rating was 4.1/5; 10.8% of reviews received a practitioner response.
• Monetary considerations, hygiene, punctuality, and office setting significantly impacted ratings; therapeutic assessments were less influential.

Conclusions:

• Online reviews provide insights into patient perceptions, but may not always reflect true satisfaction.
• Factors like punctuality and fees negatively affect ratings, highlighting areas for practice improvement.
• Further research comparing online ratings with actual patient satisfaction is recommended.