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. 2024 Oct 20;16(10):e71932.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.71932. eCollection 2024 Oct.

Categorizing Extremely Positive Five-Star Online Reviews for Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Surgeons: A Retrospective Study

Albert Anastasio  1 , Anthony N Baumann  2 , Lulla V Kiwinda  1 , Lindsey V Ruderman  1 , Kyle Hitchman  3 , Andrew E Hanselman  1 , Samuel B Adams  1
Affiliations

Categorizing Extremely Positive Five-Star Online Reviews for Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Surgeons: A Retrospective Study

Albert Anastasio et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Background Multiple studies have emphasized the increased use of physician rating websites by patients when searching for surgeons to perform elective procedures. This study aimed to analyze the comments associated with online five-star patient reviews for orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons. Methods A retrospective analysis of five-star online reviews and corresponding comments using Vitals.com in 2024 was completed. Surgeons were included if they could be found on Vitals.com, were within a 10-mile radius of one of the top 10 largest cities in the United States, and if they had at least one review with one corresponding comment. Comments were further stratified into the following categories: good outcomes, well-controlled pain, correct diagnosis, clear plan, bedside manner/patient experience, staff compliment, wait time, nice facility, and offering a nonsurgical option. Results In a sampling of 2,425 orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons, 148 physicians (6.1%) had at least one review with one comment. Ultimately, 1,833 five-star reviews comprising 3,215 comments were included in the final analysis. Comments stratified by category revealed the most common comments being related to good outcomes (n = 940; 29.2%) and bedside manner/patient experience (n = 921; 28.6%). From the comments related to bedside manner/patient experience (p < 0.001) and presence of a clear plan (p < 0.001), a significantly higher proportion of comments in the nonoperative group was found relative to the operative group. Conversely, from the comments related to well-controlled pain (p < 0.001), a significantly higher proportion of comments in the operative group was found relative to the nonoperative group. Conclusions The most common reasons behind five-star patient comments for orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons were related to good outcomes and bedside manner/patient experience. Comments from surgical patients were most likely to include mention of well-controlled pain, whereas comments from patients who underwent nonoperative care were more likely to center on bedside manner/patient experience and presence of a clear plan.

Keywords: elective foot and ankle surgery; five-star reviews; online reviews; patient satisfaction; physician ratings; physician review websites; value-based care.

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Conflict of interest statement

Human subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve human participants or tissue. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: Hanselman declare(s) personal fees from Arthrex. Consultant/Advisory Role. Hanselman declare(s) personal fees from Trilliant Surgical. Consultant/Advisory Role. Hanselman declare(s) personal fees from Medline Industries. Consultant/Advisory Role. Adams declare(s) personal fees from Restor3d. Consultant/Advisory Role. Adams declare(s) personal fees from in2bones. Consultant/Advisory Role. Adams declare(s) personal fees from Enovis. Consultant/Advisory Role. Adams declare(s) personal fees from Conventus. Consultant/Advisory Role. Hanselman declare(s) personal fees from Bioventus. Consultant/Advisory Role. Hanselman declare(s) personal fees from Tricoast Surgical Solutions. Consultant/Advisory Role. Hanselman, Adams declare(s) personal fees from Stryker. Consultant/Advisory Role. Hanselman declare(s) personal fees from MedShape. Consultant/Advisory Role. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Comments from the five-star reviews stratified by categories (good outcome, well-controlled pain, correct diagnosis, clear plan, bedside manner, staff compliments, wait time, nice facility, and offering a nonsurgical option) and operative status (operative versus nonoperative group)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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