A
high percentage of U.S. adults give their physicians high grades, an
online survey indicates. Lead author Rajesh Balkrishnan, an associate
professor in the University of Michigan School of Public Health and
College of Pharmacy, and colleagues analyzed data from www.DrScore.com,
where 14,984 patients ranked visits from 2004 to 2010 on a 10-point
scale. The average overall satisfaction rating was 9.28, with 70% giving
their doctors 10’s. Another 2,291, or 15%, gave 9’s, the researchers
said. Less than 25 of the ratings were 1 or less. These high marks
overall suggest that most patients give doctors the benefit of the doubt
and realize factors beyond the physician’s control, such as insurance
red tape, contribute to their dissatisfaction, Balkrishnan said.
