Table 6.

Results of hypothesis testing.

Hypothesis	Path	Path coefficient	t test	P value	Supported?
H1a: A physician’s nonprofile photo information will positively affect the patient's cognitive trust.	PNIa→CTb	0.258	4.558	<.001	Yes
H1b: A physician’s profile photo information will positively affect the patient's affective trust.	PPIc→ATd	0.174	3.197	.001	Yes
H1c: Patient-generated information will positively affect the patient's cognitive trust.	PGIe→CT	0.218	3.764	<.001	Yes
H1d: Patient-generated information will positively affect the patient's affective trust.	PGI→AT	0.217	3.759	<.001	Yes
H2a: Patient expertise will play a negative role in the influence of a physician’s nonprofile photo information on cognitive trust.	PNI × PEf→CT	0.097	0.933	.17	No
H2b: Patient expertise will play a negative role in the influence of a physician’s profile photo information on affective trust.	PPI × PE→AT	–0.068	1.013	.16	No
H2c: Patient expertise will play a positive role in the impact of patient-generated information on cognitive trust.	PGI × PE→CT	0.127	1.730	.04	Yes
H2d: Patient expertise will play a positive role in the impact of patient-generated information on affective trust.	PGI × PE→AT	0.161	2.251	.01	Yes
H3a: The patient's cognitive trust in a physician will positively influence his or her choice of physician.	CT→CPg	0.437	7.553	<.001	Yes
H3b: The patient's affective trust in a physician will positively influence his or her choice of physician.	AT→CP	0.502	8.696	<.001	Yes

^aPNI: physicians’ nonprofile photo information.

^bCT: cognitive trust.

^cPPI: physicians’ profile photo information.

^dAT: affective trust.

^ePGI: patient-generated information.

^fPE: patient expertise.

^gCP: choice of physician.