Coverage, Traits, and Geographic Distribution of Online Surgeon Reviews: Large-Scale Cross-Sectional Analysis

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Medical Informatics
• Surgical Outcomes

Background:

• Online physician rating platforms are increasingly used and influence patient choice.
• Data on surgeon ratings on these platforms are limited.
• Understanding surgeon rating patterns is crucial for informed patient decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the geographic distribution and rating score patterns of surgeons in the United States.
• To examine rating volumes across surgical specialties.
• To investigate the association between peer-nominated and patient-initiated online ratings.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study analyzed data from 201,154 US surgeons.
• Surgeon coverage and geographic patterns on 3 online rating platforms were assessed.
• Rating scores, volumes, and the relationship between peer and patient ratings were compared.

Main Results:

• Over 78% of surgeons had patient-initiated ratings across 11 specialties.
• Plastic surgeons, neurosurgeons, and orthopedic surgeons had the highest rating volumes.
• Surgeons recognized as "Top Doctors" by peers received significantly higher patient ratings.

Conclusions:

• Online rating platforms offer comprehensive surgeon coverage in the US, varying by specialty.
• Peer recognition is linked to better patient-reported ratings.
• Further research should explore how online ratings impact surgeon selection and patient outcomes.