U.S. mothers' behaviors and preferences when choosing physicians for their families: Assisting "Chief Medical Officers"

Health Care Women Int. 2017 Nov;38(11):1234-1246. doi: 10.1080/07399332.2017.1367002. Epub 2017 Aug 21.

Abstract

We performed an online study of 320 U.S. mothers to determine how this group, generally regarded as the "Chief Medical Officers" of their families, find physicians for their families. We also aimed to uncover mothers' information preferences with the goal of helping health care systems improve the content they offer. Mothers responded how they chose their last family medicine physician, and the level of importance they placed on various types of provider information when making that decision. Mothers rated providers' communication style as the most important characteristic. Interpersonal referrals were the most commonly cited source of information. Mothers also rated being able to extract personality characteristics and feelings of relatability from a provider's online biography as important in selecting a provider.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Choice Behavior*
  • Communication
  • Female
  • General Practitioners*
  • Humans
  • Information Seeking Behavior
  • Mothers / psychology*
  • Patient Participation
  • Patient Preference*
  • Physician-Patient Relations*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United States