Exploring the Relationship between Service Quality of Private Hospitals and Patient Loyalty from the Perspective of Health Service

Abstract

Background: With increasing demands for medical treatment and healthcare, private hospitals have enjoyed rapid development, and the quality and satisfaction ratings of their medical services have gradually become hotspot issues. We aimed to investigate the influencing mechanisms of medical service quality, patient perceived value, patient satisfaction, and patient loyalty.

Methods: On the basis of improved patient perceived value, service satisfaction, and loyalty scales, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 300 patients in 15 private hospitals in China. The action mechanisms of medical service quality, patient perceived value, patient satisfaction, and patient loyalty were verified via SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 20.0 statistical software.

Results: The service quality of private hospitals was positively correlated with patient perceived value, patient satisfaction and patient loyalty. Patient perceived value was positively correlated with patient satisfaction. Patient perceived value, as well as patient satisfaction was positively correlated with patient loyalty. Patient perceived value and patient satisfaction play a mediating role between medical service quality and patient loyalty. Patient perceived value and patient satisfaction play a chain mediating role between medical service quality and patient loyalty.

Conclusion: 1) Improving medical service quality is the main path to acquire patient loyalty for private hospitals. 2) When accepting high-quality medical services, patients will think that the cost paid is reasonable, and their satisfaction with private hospitals will consequently increase. 3) As patient satisfaction with private hospitals is elevated to a certain degree, they become increasingly willing to choose these hospitals again and recommend them to others.