Online reviews and AI summaries can be helpful, but only if they are used thoughtfully.
Patients benefit most when they look for patterns rather than isolated stories, treat perfect-sounding claims with caution, and understand that medicine involves probabilities rather than guarantees¹. Reviews are best used to inform questions, not replace conversations.
Studies show that online ratings strongly influence patient choice, even when they do not reliably reflect clinical quality or long-term outcomes². This makes careful interpretation especially important.
A direct discussion with a clinician about risks, benefits, alternatives, and recovery expectations will almost always provide more clarity than any summary.
In healthcare, honest context matters more than star ratings.
References
- Emmert M, Meier F, Pisch F, Sander U. How online quality ratings influence patients’ choice of medical providers: Controlled experimental survey study. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2018;20(3):e99.
- Terlutter R, Bidmon S, Röttl J. Who uses physician-rating websites? Differences in users and non-users. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2014;16(3):e97.
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