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Table 1 Variables description

From: Exploring the impact of word-of-mouth about Physicians’ service quality on patient choice based on online health communities

Variables

Variables symbol

Explanation

Dependent variable

Patients appointment totals

LnOBSH_Totals

The number of patient appointments; we use the log value.

Independent variables

Physician treatment outcome

Treatment_outcome

Patients give an evaluation score for physicians’ technical quality when patients share experiences.

Physician’s attitude

Attitude

Patients give an evaluation score for physicians’ functional quality when patients share experience.

Disease type

Disease_dummy

The disease risk that patients get. We use one dummy variable to measure the disease risk. When the disease is high-risk, the variable equal to 1.

Control variables

Hospital level

Hlevel_dummy1,

Hospital has their own levels, which is judged by the country and can represent their ability: level 1, 2 and 3. Level 1 is the best. Some hospitals do not have a level, because their medical abilities do not reach the level 3, so we use three dummy variables to represent level 1, 2, 3, and no level.

Hlevel_dummy2,

Hlevel_dummy3

Hospital score

H_Score

When patients write experiences, they also give a score on the hospital’s environment and attitude of guide service.

Physician titles

Title_dummy1,

Physicians have their own titles, which is judged by the country, and can represent their medical skill. These titles include chief physician, associate chief physician, attending physician and other titles. The number of other title physicians is small, so we use two dummy variables to represent chief physician and associate chief physician.

Title_dummy2

Physician experience totals

LnExperience Totals

The number of patient experiences for the physician; we use the log value.