Research

Research Statement


My research focuses on healthcare consumer judgment and decision-making. In my dissertation research, I examine patient (i.e., reviewer) and prospective patient preferences and biases in online physician reviews. I investigate what reviews convey about the physician characteristics consumers value, whether biases exist in how consumers judge different specialties and demographics of physicians, and if prospective patients rely on those biases when using ratings and reviews to select a physician. Policy implications include characterizing differences in how physicians are judged and chosen, which may inform interventions to mitigate biases, such as changing how patient feedback is elicited and alerting consumers to potential unconscious biases.

Peer-reviewed articles


Madanay, F., McDevitt, R.C., & Ubel, P.A (2022). Hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19: Variation in regional political preferences predicted new prescriptions after President Trump’s endorsement. Journal of Health Policy, Politics, and Law, Advanced Publication.

Delaney, R.K., Sisco-Taylor, B.L., Wang, X., Scherr, K., Ubel, P.A., Haaland, B., Kahn, V.C., Hamstra, D., Wei, J.T., Madanay, F., Davis, J.K., Greeno, T.U., & Fagerlin, A. (2022). Two Specialists, Two Recommendations: Discordance between Urologists’ & Radiation Oncologists’ Prostate Cancer Treatment Recommendations. Urology, Advanced Publication.


Wong, C.A., Hakimi, S., Santanam, T.S., Madanay, F., Fridman, I., Ford, C., Patel, M., & Ubel, P.A. (2020).

Applying behavioral economics to improve adolescent and young adult health: a developmentally

sensitive approach. Journal of Adolescent Health, 69(1), 17-25.


Wong, C.A., Madanay, F., Ozer, E., Harris, S., Moore, M., Master, S.O., Moreno, M., & Weitzman, E.R. (2020). Digital health technology to enhance adolescent and young adult clinical preventive services: Affordances and challenges. Journal of Adolescent Health, 67(2), S24-S33.


Buzi, R.S., Madanay, F.L., & Fujimoto, K. (2020). Sexual and social networks, venue attendance, and HIV risk among young men who have sex with men. AIDS Care, 1-6.

Wong, C. A., Ellsworth, E., Madanay, F., Chandrasekaran, D., Moore, M., Polsky, D., & Ubel, P. A. (2019). The roles of assisters and automated decision support tools in consumers’ marketplace choices: room for improvement. Health Affairs, 38(3), 473-481.


Vulimiri, M., Bleser, W.K., Saunders, R.S., Madanay, F., Moseley, C., McGuire, H.F., Ubel, P.A., McKethan, A., McClellan, M., & Wong, C.A. (2019). Engaging beneficiaries in Medicaid programs that incentivize health-promoting behaviors. Health Affairs, 38(3), 431-439.

[Medicaid program incentives from article shown at right.]

Buzi, R.S., Weinman, M.L., Smith, P.B., Loudd, G., & Madanay, F.L. (2018). HIV stigma perceptions and sexual risk behaviors among black young women. Journal of HIV/AIDS & Social Services, 17(1), 69-85.


Buzi, R.S., Madanay, F.L., & Smith, P.B. (2016).

Integrating routine HIV testing into family planning clinics that treat adolescents and young adults. Public Health Reports, 131(Suppl 1), 130-138.

[HIV testing trends from article shown at left.]


Invited Book Reviews


Madanay, F. & Ubel, P.A. (2021). [Review of the book The Origins of Behavioural Public Policy, by Adam Oliver]. Journal of Health Policy, Politics and Law. Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law 46(2), 375-379.


Madanay, F. (2014, September). [Review of the book The Forgotten Holocaust: The Poles Under German Occupation, 1939-1944, by R. Lukas]. The Sarmatian Review 34(3), 1867-1869.

Poster presentation at the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine Annual Meeting in Seattle, WA (2018)