What information do patients pay more attention to in online physician selection? Information needs model for online medical choice decision-making based on trust theory and fuzzy decision.

Abstract

The development of information technology has reshaped the information flow process in traditional medical activities, giving rise to eHealth. In the context of Internet medical treatment, the massive and heterogeneous information available complicates and challenges patients' online medical choices. Understanding which indicators on Internet medical platforms should be prioritized by ordinary patients is crucial for effective online medical decision-making. To address these challenges, this paper introduces an information needs model for online physician selection tailored to experts with different medical preferences. This model aims to provide the methodological support for constructing user profiles on eHealth platforms and for medical service providers. In addition, this study seeks to introduce the strategies used by experts in online physician selection to provide clear guidance and suggestions for ordinary patients making online medical choices. This paper uses the "Hao Daifu" eHealth platform as the research setting, and selects experts based on their eHealth literacy and online physician selection experience. It describes individual's preferences in online physician selection using interpersonal trust theory. Furthermore, the paper examines the eHealth platform indicators that experts focus on during the online physician selection process. The importance of these indicators is evaluated using the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets decision-making method. This study presents a method for investigating the comprehensive information needs of patients' online physician selection. The findings reveal that different patients prioritize different trust dimensions in the physician selection process. Patients mainly rely on hospital qualification indicators - such as grade, ownership, and type - when selecting hospitals. For evaluating doctors, they focus on doctor qualification indicators, represented by professional titles and doctor-patient interaction indicators, represented by efficacy satisfaction.