Patient preference for a particular hospital: A prospective questionnaire-based investigation from India

Background: The ubiquitous access to media, the Internet, and suggestions from friends relatives have empowered patients not only choose but also make informed decisions about their health needs and how and where to be addressed. Although there are many guides and studies on the main factors which i...

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Main Authors: Srinivas Bojanapu, Mayank Mathur, Jini Jacob, Anju Sharma, Samiran Nundy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2020-01-01
Series:Current Medicine Research and Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.cmrpjournal.org/article.asp?issn=2352-0817;year=2020;volume=10;issue=6;spage=260;epage=265;aulast=Bojanapu
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author Srinivas Bojanapu
Mayank Mathur
Jini Jacob
Anju Sharma
Samiran Nundy
author_facet Srinivas Bojanapu
Mayank Mathur
Jini Jacob
Anju Sharma
Samiran Nundy
author_sort Srinivas Bojanapu
collection DOAJ
description Background: The ubiquitous access to media, the Internet, and suggestions from friends relatives have empowered patients not only choose but also make informed decisions about their health needs and how and where to be addressed. Although there are many guides and studies on the main factors which infl choice, particularly in the USA. There are very few from India and also hospitals from the large private sector constantly advertise their strengths. Aim: We studied the factors which influenced a patient's decision to seek medical attention at a not-for-profit tertiary care centre in India. Materials and Methods: Four hundred consecutive patients or their relatives were provided with a printed sheet that contained a total of 15 questions, which included the unit's and hospital's trustworthiness, reputation, infrastructure, affordability and accessibility, among others. SPSS (version 24) was used, and reliability and validity tests were done. Principal component analysis with Varimax rotation method was done. Results: There were four constructs from 15 observed variables with a cumulative variance of 55%. Construct 1 had a variance of 31%, and it included variables such as trust in hospital and doctor, infrastructure, diagnostic facilities and ancillary programmes. Construct 2, with a variance of 8.9%, had accreditation, academics and research. Construct 3, with a variance of 7%, had information seeking through the Internet and easy accessibility. Construct 4 had a variance of 7% with health insurance and a suggestion from a neighbour/family or from a friend. Nearly 64% of the patients in the study group travelled more than 100 km. Conclusion: The most influential factors for choosing a hospital are trust in hospital and doctor, along with infrastructure and ancillary services, followed by certified standards of care and academics and research. Surprisingly, the distance was not a deciding factor in the majority, nor was empanelment with insurance companies.
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spelling doaj.art-c84cece7cca04f229d5194c8de8b2ea92022-12-22T04:39:22ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsCurrent Medicine Research and Practice2352-08172352-08252020-01-0110626026510.4103/cmrp.cmrp_55_20Patient preference for a particular hospital: A prospective questionnaire-based investigation from IndiaSrinivas BojanapuMayank MathurJini JacobAnju SharmaSamiran NundyBackground: The ubiquitous access to media, the Internet, and suggestions from friends relatives have empowered patients not only choose but also make informed decisions about their health needs and how and where to be addressed. Although there are many guides and studies on the main factors which infl choice, particularly in the USA. There are very few from India and also hospitals from the large private sector constantly advertise their strengths. Aim: We studied the factors which influenced a patient's decision to seek medical attention at a not-for-profit tertiary care centre in India. Materials and Methods: Four hundred consecutive patients or their relatives were provided with a printed sheet that contained a total of 15 questions, which included the unit's and hospital's trustworthiness, reputation, infrastructure, affordability and accessibility, among others. SPSS (version 24) was used, and reliability and validity tests were done. Principal component analysis with Varimax rotation method was done. Results: There were four constructs from 15 observed variables with a cumulative variance of 55%. Construct 1 had a variance of 31%, and it included variables such as trust in hospital and doctor, infrastructure, diagnostic facilities and ancillary programmes. Construct 2, with a variance of 8.9%, had accreditation, academics and research. Construct 3, with a variance of 7%, had information seeking through the Internet and easy accessibility. Construct 4 had a variance of 7% with health insurance and a suggestion from a neighbour/family or from a friend. Nearly 64% of the patients in the study group travelled more than 100 km. Conclusion: The most influential factors for choosing a hospital are trust in hospital and doctor, along with infrastructure and ancillary services, followed by certified standards of care and academics and research. Surprisingly, the distance was not a deciding factor in the majority, nor was empanelment with insurance companies.http://www.cmrpjournal.org/article.asp?issn=2352-0817;year=2020;volume=10;issue=6;spage=260;epage=265;aulast=Bojanapuaccreditationchoosing hospitalindiajoint commission internationalnational accreditation board for hospitals and healthcare providerspatient's choice
spellingShingle Srinivas Bojanapu
Mayank Mathur
Jini Jacob
Anju Sharma
Samiran Nundy
Patient preference for a particular hospital: A prospective questionnaire-based investigation from India
Current Medicine Research and Practice
accreditation
choosing hospital
india
joint commission international
national accreditation board for hospitals and healthcare providers
patient's choice
title Patient preference for a particular hospital: A prospective questionnaire-based investigation from India
title_full Patient preference for a particular hospital: A prospective questionnaire-based investigation from India
title_fullStr Patient preference for a particular hospital: A prospective questionnaire-based investigation from India
title_full_unstemmed Patient preference for a particular hospital: A prospective questionnaire-based investigation from India
title_short Patient preference for a particular hospital: A prospective questionnaire-based investigation from India
title_sort patient preference for a particular hospital a prospective questionnaire based investigation from india
topic accreditation
choosing hospital
india
joint commission international
national accreditation board for hospitals and healthcare providers
patient's choice
url http://www.cmrpjournal.org/article.asp?issn=2352-0817;year=2020;volume=10;issue=6;spage=260;epage=265;aulast=Bojanapu
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AT anjusharma patientpreferenceforaparticularhospitalaprospectivequestionnairebasedinvestigationfromindia
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