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Factors that determine a Patient's willingness to physician selection in online healthcare communities: A trust theory perspective

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  • Gong, Yingli
  • Wang, Hongwei
  • Xia, Qiangwei
  • Zheng, Lijuan
  • Shi, Yunxiang

Abstract

Health care users and patients are increasingly using online health communities to seek medical service, especially during the COVID-19 epidemic. The factors that determine the online trust between physicians and patients perplex the stakeholders for a long time. Based on the trust theory, this study explored the influence of physicians' personal quality and online reputation on patients' selection. A longitudinal panel data collection exercise, covering 11905 physicians on haodf. com, was conducted on May 20, 2018, May 22, 2019 and May 25, 2020. The random effect models are used to test our hypothesis. Results show that physicians' quality (competence, benevolence, and integrity) and online reputation (online reviews and online rating) can significantly affect patients' selection. Moreover, the physician's gender can enhance the influence of online reputation on patients' selection. As online healthcare community becomes an increasingly appealing channel for health, the frequency of the physician's quality information updating and the quality of online service are equally important to online physician-patient trust.

Suggested Citation

  • Gong, Yingli & Wang, Hongwei & Xia, Qiangwei & Zheng, Lijuan & Shi, Yunxiang, 2021. "Factors that determine a Patient's willingness to physician selection in online healthcare communities: A trust theory perspective," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:teinso:v:64:y:2021:i:c:s0160791x20313130
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2020.101510
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    Cited by:

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    2. Lu Chen & Miaoting Cheng, 2022. "Exploring Chinese Elderly’s Trust in the Healthcare System: Empirical Evidence from a Population-Based Survey in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Jiaxuan Li & Patrick Cheong-Iao Pang & Yundan Xiao & Dennis Wong, 2022. "Changes in Doctor–Patient Relationships in China during COVID-19: A Text Mining Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-14, October.
    4. Jinxin Yang & Din Jong, 2021. "Understanding Continuance Intention Determinants to Adopt Online Health Care Community: An Empirical Study of Food Safety," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-21, June.
    5. Jiang Shen & Bang An & Man Xu & Dan Gan & Ting Pan, 2022. "Internal or External Word-of-Mouth (WOM), Why Do Patients Choose Doctors on Online Medical Services (OMSs) Single Platform in China?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-14, October.

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