title: An investigation of the external physician search process.
abstract: As a basis for better understanding the health care consumer and identifying ways to segment the health care market, the authors report the results of an empirical investigation of the external search process patients undertake to find a physician. The impact of a patient's perceived illness severity on this process also is investigated. Implications of the findings are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010820:Physicians / Q000592:standards*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States