Effect of Physician Race and Gender on Simulated Patients' Ratings

Experimental: Simulated Black Male Physician

Participants are randomized to view the clinical vignette with a simulated Black Male physician.

Comportamental: Simulated Black Male Physician

Participants in this arm of the experiment viewed one of 10 randomly selected possible images of a simulated Black Male physician. This image was paired with a written treatment and diagnosis of gastroenteritis alongside a contradictory diagnosis and treatment plan for appendicitis from an Online Symptom Checker.

Experimental: Simulated Black Female Physician

Participants are randomized to view the clinical vignette with a simulated Black Female physician.

Comportamental: Simulated Black Female Physician

Participants in this arm of the experiment viewed one of 10 randomly selected possible images of a simulated Black Female physician. This image was paired with a written treatment and diagnosis of gastroenteritis alongside a contradictory diagnosis and treatment plan for appendicitis from an Online Symptom Checker.

Experimental: Simulated White Male Physician

Participants are randomized to view the clinical vignette with a simulated White Male physician.

Comportamental: Simulated White Male Physician

Participants in this arm of the experiment viewed one of 10 randomly selected possible images of a simulated White Male physician. This image was paired with a written treatment and diagnosis of gastroenteritis alongside a contradictory diagnosis and treatment plan for appendicitis from an Online Symptom Checker.

Experimental: Simulated White Female Physician

Participants are randomized to view the clinical vignette with a simulated White Female physician.

Comportamental: Simulated White Female Physician

Participants in this arm of the experiment viewed one of 10 randomly selected possible images of a simulated White Female physician. This image was paired with a written treatment and diagnosis of gastroenteritis alongside a contradictory diagnosis and treatment plan for appendicitis from an Online Symptom Checker.

Patient Confidence

1. "How confident are you that this doctor made the correct diagnosis?" Study 1: [not at all confident (0) to completely confident (100)] Study 2: [not at all confident (1) to completely confident (5)]*

2. "How confident are you that this doctor made the correct treatment plan?" Study 1: [not at all confident (0) to completely confident (100)] Study 2: [not at all confident (1) to completely confident (5)]*

   • The Patient Confidence outcome for each study participant was the unweighted average of their ratings on questions a and b. In Study 1, this item was measured using 0-100 point scales. In Study 2, this outcome was measured using 5 point scales. For all analyses, these Patient Confidence outcomes from a and b were rescaled to match the 1-5 point range from Study 2.

Believed Symptom Checker over Doctor

"Which diagnosis do you think is more likely to be correct?" [the doctor's diagnosis (0); online symptom checker (1)]

Likelihood of Requesting more Tests

"Would you ask the doctor to perform additional diagnostic tests? (Such as the CT scan recommended by the Symptom Checker)." [definitely not (1); probably not (2); might or might not (3); probably (4); definitely (5)]

Patient Satisfaction: scale

"What number would you use to rate your care during this emergency room visit?" Study 1: [0 (worse possible care) to 100 (best possible care)] Study 2: [0 (worse possible care) to 10 (best possible care)]*

*In Study 1, the Patient Satisfaction was measured using a 0-100 point scale. In Study 2, this was measured using a 10 point scale. For all analyses, this Patient Satisfaction outcome from Study 1 was rescaled to match the 0-10 point range in Study 2.

Likelihood to Recommend

"Would you recommend this doctor to your friends and family?" [definitely not (1); probably not (2); might or might not (3); probably (4); definitely (5)]

Warmth and Competence

1. Study 1: "How do you imagine this doctor would be in a real interaction?". 7-item scale: Tolerant, Warm, Sincere, Good-natured, Intelligent, Competent, Confident.

2. Study 2: "Based on the doctor's diagnosis, to what extent do you find [him/her]". 6-item scale: Kind, Qualified, Intelligent, Competent, Open-minded, Trustworthy.

   • Warmth and Competence were measured in Study 1 (7-item scale) and Study 2 (6-item scale).

Willingness to sue or complain

"You take the doctor's advice and go home. Over the next few days, the pain in your abdomen got worse and you returned to the hospital where you were diagnosed with appendicitis. Your appendix had burst and you developed a serious infection. This required emergency surgery and an extended stay in the hospital's intensive Care Unit"*

1. "Would you file a complaint against this doctor?" [5 = "Definitely"; 4 = "Probably"; 3 = "Might or might not"; 2 = "Probably not"; 1 = "Definitely not"]

2. "Would you consider suing this doctors?" [5 = "Definitely"; 4 = "Probably"; 3 = "Might or might not"; 2 = "Probably not"; 1 = "Definitely not"]

   • Willingness to sue or complain was only measured in Study 2.

Fairness of the cost

"You would be charged about $350 for this emergency department visit. How fair do you think this charge is?" [0 = "Completely unfair" to 100 = "Completely Fair"]*

*Fairness of the cost was only measured in Study 1.