title: [Efficacy and efficiency of searches for a physician using physician search and evaluation portals in comparison with Google].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Internet provides ways for patients to obtain information about doctors. The study poses the question whether it is possible and how long it takes to find a suitable doctor with an Internet search. It focuses on the effectiveness and efficiency of the search. Specialised physician rating and searching portals and Google are analysed when used to solve specific tasks.
  
  
  METHODS
  The behaviour of volunteers when searching a suitable ophthalmologist, dermatologist or dentist was observed in a usability lab. Additionally, interviews were carried out by means of structured questionnaires to measure the satisfaction of the users with the search and their results. Three physician rating and searching portals that are frequently used in Germany (Jameda.de, DocInsider.de and Arztauskunft.de) were analysed as well as Google.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When using Arztauskunft and Google most users found an appropriate physician. When using Docinsider or Jameda they found fewer doctors. Additionally, the time needed to locate a suitable doctor when using Docinsider and Jameda was higher compared to the time needed when using the Arztauskunft and Google. The satisfaction of users who used Google was significantly higher in comparison to those who used the specialised physician rating and searching portals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It emerged from this study that there is no added value when using specialised physician rating and searching portals compared to using the search engine Google when trying to find a doctor having a particular specialty. The usage of several searching portals is recommended to identify as many suitable doctors as possible.
authors.affiliation: Fakultät III, Abteilung Information und Kommunikation, Hochschule Hannover. uwe.sander@fh-hannover.de
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sander
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Emmert
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Grobe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057225:Data Mining / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003657:Decision Making; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010361:Patients; D010820:Physicians / Q000145:classification* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057386:Search Engine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012984:Software