Published online May 18, 2022. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v13.i5.472
Peer-review started: October 12, 2021
First decision: March 7, 2022
Revised: March 16, 2022
Accepted: April 22, 2022
Article in press: April 22, 2022
Published online: May 18, 2022
Understanding how patients choose a provider may improve the overall experience by identifying ways to tailor a clinical practice.
To identify factors that patients consider important when choosing an orthopedic oncologist.
New patients presenting to an orthopedic oncology clinic within a tertiary academic medical center from January 2019 to August 2020 were invited to complete an anonymous survey. The questionnaire consisted of 27 items including a Likert-type assessment of the importance of selection factors.
A total of 101 new patients with a median age of 66 years (range, 14 years to 91 years) responded. Most were referred by another doctor (n = 63, 62.4%), and of the referring providers, the most frequent specialty was orthopedic surgery (n = 32, 51%). Using a Likert-type scale with 1 representing ‘least important’ and 5 representing ‘most important’, the most important factor was the hospital reputation (mean, 4.65; SD, 0.85). Additional factors of importance were the number of years in practice (3.87 ± 1.3) and a primary care provider referral (3.71 ± 1.6). Patients younger than 40 years old found social media (P = 0.016) and internet presence (P = 0.035) of their surgeon to be more important than older patients. In contrast, older patients considered care within an academic center to be of greater importance than younger patients (P = 0.014).
This investigation suggests a primary care referral, as well as hospital and physician reputation, are among the most important factors when selecting an orthopedic oncologist. Furthermore, social media utilization appears to be more important for younger patients.
Core Tip: The most important factor for orthopedic oncologist selection was the reputation of the hospital, followed by a primary care provider referral and the number of years in practice of the oncologist. Patients under the age of 40 found social media and internet presence of the oncologist to be more important than older patients. Patients over the age of 60 considered care within an academic center to be of greater importance than younger patients.