Exploring the impact of online information signals in leveraging the economic returns of physicians

The Impact of Signals Transmission on Patients’ Choice through E-Consultation Websites: An Econometric Analysis of Secondary Datasets

“…To select a competent physician, healthcare consumers take suggestions from their family members and friends to obtain online WOM information. A number of investigations have debated the impact of physician online reputation, such as the star ratings and textual feedback on patients’ choice of physician selection online [ 16 , 32 , 35 , 43 , 57 , 58 ]. The existing literature validates online WOM as a valuable and efficient channel for disseminating information regarding provider reputation to consumers.…”

“…These signals include physician online reputation, offline reputation and online efforts. For example, Shah, et al [ 32 ] found that online reputation in the form of patient-generated signals positively impacts the patients’ online decision-making process. A study by Liu, et al [ 33 ] do demonstrate that individual physician offline and online reputations on e-consultation websites were positively associated with the patients’ choice to book appointments online with that particular physician.…”

An OLS and GMM Combined Algorithm for Text Analysis for Heterogeneous Impact in Online Health Communities

“…When patients use an OHC, they viewed other patients' feedback to doctors. Additionally, several studies have comprehensively analyzed determinants of OHCs, including both price and non-price factors and their impacts on patient satisfaction, switching between online and offline, and economic returns for physicians [16]. However, these studies have not examined whether a doctor's online activity determinants differ across patient diseases.…”

Seeking or contributing? Evidence of knowledge sharing behaviours in promoting patients’ perceived value of online health communities

“…For example, some studies on health professionals have examined the impacts of factors such as professional capability, reputation and economic rewards. 7,8,19,20,31,38,39 Other studies, focused on patient users, have examined the impacts of extrinsic and intrinsic motivations [4][5][6]20,33,34,40 and potential hindering factors such as trust and privacy protection. 6,24,30 As social networking is an important feature of OHCs and users in OHCs also pursue social interactions, 1,3,22 some studies have also explored the impacts of users' social capital in OHCs.…”

“…Scholars thus are curious about the reasons why people contribute health knowledge in OHCs. For example, some studies on health professionals have examined the impacts of factors such as professional capability, reputation and economic rewards 7,8,19,20,31,38,39 . Other studies, focused on patient users, have examined the impacts of extrinsic and intrinsic motivations 4‐6,20,33,34,40 and potential hindering factors such as trust and privacy protection 6,24,30 .…”