The Relationship Between Physician Self-Disclosure and Patient Acquisition in Digital Health Markets: Cross-Sectional Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Online health communities have evolved into digital marketplaces where physicians have to compete for patients. Existing research examines physician-patient dynamics through a patient-centric lens, treating physicians as passive recipients of ratings and reviews, while the strategic role of physician self-disclosure remains unexamined. This gap constrains a comprehensive understanding of how physicians can actively shape patient decisions, making the investigation of strategic self-disclosure imperative.

Objective

This study aims to investigate the relationship between physician self-disclosure breadth (scope of information) and depth (detailed expertise) and patient decision-making, as well as whether regional digital health care level (DHL) moderates these relat

SUBMITTER: Liu Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12902760 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature