Differences of Search Engine Digital Footprints Between Podiatrists and Foot and Ankle Orthopaedic Surgeons: A Need to Join the Digital Era.
Differences of Search Engine Digital Footprints Between Podiatrists and Foot and Ankle Orthopaedic Surgeons: A Need to Join the Digital Era.
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搜索引擎数字足迹的差异是足病医生与脚踝骨科医生之间的数字足迹：需要加入数字时代。
DOI：
10.5435/jaaos-d-22-00189
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发表时间：
2022-08-15
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
Chodos MD
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Chiang BJ;Malik Z;Laubach L;Minchu P;Gu A;Chodos MD
Search engines generate lists of the most relevant websites using a keyword or phrase query and are integral in guiding consumer preferences. Digital information is important in the field of medicine, influencing what patients learn about their conditions and who they choose as providers. When two types of healthcare providers, such as podiatry and foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeons (FAOSs), share an overlapping consumer market, whichever group has a larger digital footprint receives increased digital engagement. The Google search engine was used to query nine common foot and ankle–associated terms using a “search term + zip code” format for 150 zip codes divided into urban, suburban, and rural population densities. The first 10 results of each search were classified into one of five categories. Site content was classified as podiatry-oriented, other MD/DO-oriented, or FAOS-oriented. Separately, a ratio between podiatrists and FAOSs was calculated for each population density group. Data were then normalized using this ratio and reanalyzed with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test with significance at P < 0.05. Of 13,500 total search results, 4,992 (36.9%) were podiatry-oriented, 2,109 (15.6%) were other MD/DO-oriented, and 436 (3.2%) were FAOS-oriented. All geographic areas featured a higher number of podiatry than FAOS-oriented sites. FAOSs have more results per provider in urban areas (P < 0.001), although podiatrists had more in suburban and rural areas (P < 0.001, P < 0.001). Podiatrists have greater digital engagement in descriptive search terms. “Ankle replacement” has greater FAOS engagement in all three geographic areas. Foot and ankle–related Internet search terms results are overwhelmingly composed of podiatry-oriented sites. Per provider, regional differences are demonstrated, with FAOS having more sites in urban areas only. FAOS scope-of-practice terms such as “ankle replacement” still retain greater engagement by FAOSs. Search engine optimization and saturation strategies should be considered.
