Perspectives and Preferences among the General Public Regarding Physician Selection and Board Certification

Received 7 July 2009; received in revised form 16 October 2009; accepted 18 November 2009. published online 08 February 2010.

Objectives

To characterize parental attitudes regarding board certification and other factors that influence selection of physicians to care for children.

Study design

A web-based survey administered in 2008 to a random sample of 3621 adults ≥18 years of age stratified by parents and non-parents. Proportion of respondents who view board certification and other measures of quality as important factors in selecting a physician to care for children.

Results

Survey completion rate was 62%. Almost all (95%) believe it is important or very important for doctors who care for children to be assessed on their quality of care, receive high ratings from patients (91%), and pass a written test at regular intervals (88%). Most reported that recommendations from friends or family (84%) and board certification (82%) were important or very important factors in choosing a physician for their child. Seventy-seven percent of parents stated that they would be likely to change their child's physician if he/she did not maintain board certification

Conclusion

Parents report a preference for board-certified physicians and expect them to participate in Maintenance of Certification. Greater understanding of quality measures and the board certification process would empower consumers to make more informed decisions in selecting a physician for their children.

ABMS, American Board of Medical Specialties, ABP, American Board of Pediatrics, MOC, Maintenance of Certification

a Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

b Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

c University of Michigan Health System, the Child Health Evaluation and Research (CHEAR) Unit, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

d Department of Health Management and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

e Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

f American Board of Pediatrics, Chapel Hill, NC

Reprint requests: Gary L. Freed, MD, MPH, University of Michigan, 300 North Ingalls Building 6E08, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0456.

Funded by a grant from the American Board of Pediatrics Foundation. The sponsor had no involvement in the collection of data, preparation, or submission of this manuscript. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

∗ List of members of the Research Advisory Committee of the American Board of Pediatrics is available at www.jpeds.com (Appendix).

PII: S0022-3476(09)01190-1

doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2009.11.055

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