Using Publicly Available Reddit Data to Understand How Parents Choose Pediatricians. Issue 2 (3rd April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ossai, Chionye; Bedrick, Steven; Orwoll, Benjamin
• Is Part Of: Journal of consumer health on the Internet. Volume 26:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 186
• Page End: 198
• Publication Date: 2022-04-03
• Subjects: Online community -- parent -- pediatrician -- Reddit -- social media; Health -- Computer network resources -- Periodicals; Internet -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Computer network resources -- Periodicals; Computer Communication Networks -- Periodicals; Consumer Participation -- Periodicals; Delivery of Health Care -- Periodicals; 025.063621
• DOI: 10.1080/15398285.2022.2062659
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1539-8285

Abstract

Abstract: Parents are increasingly using online physician rating sites to select a pediatrician. However, no studies have examined the role of social media in influencing parents' choice of a pediatrician. The objective of this study was to qualitatively analyze what factors influence the choice of a pediatrician in an online peer support community. We retrieved retrospective data of all threads made to 4 subreddits on the Reddit social media platform between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2019. We performed qualitative analysis using an inductive approach on threads related to choosing a pediatrician. We identified several codes which were grouped into subcategories/categories and finally abstracted into themes. We retrieved a total of 179 threads and included 30 for qualitative analysis. Thematic analysis led to identification of four major themes that influence how parents choose pediatricians on a social media platform—pediatrician-specific factors, office-related factors, parent/patient factors, and social factors. An online peer support community can serve as an important source of information for parents when searching for a pediatrician. Pediatric practices should focus on providing unmet information needs to parents that will ease the burden of the search process.