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Article
Publication date: 15 July 2020

Prachi Verma, Satinder Kumar and Sanjeev K. Sharma

Use of technology for quality healthcare services has developed into a new field known as “e-Healthcare services.” Healthcare providers often judge their quality of services with…

Abstract

Purpose

Use of technology for quality healthcare services has developed into a new field known as “e-Healthcare services.” Healthcare providers often judge their quality of services with consumer satisfaction. With e-Healthcare services, consumer satisfaction is influenced by the quality of healthcare services provided and the demographic characteristics. The purpose of the present case study is to recognize the important predictors of quality, which are significant for consumer satisfaction with e-Healthcare services by using Zineldin's 5Qs model. It also aims to find the strength of association among the predictors of consumer satisfaction and the demographic characteristics of the respondents.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire-based study was conducted at a public (PGIMER, Chandigarh) and a private hospital (Fortis Hospital, Mohali) of Punjab, India, from February 2018 to March 2019. The structured, closed-ended questionnaire, to be marked on a 1–5 point Likert scale, was adapted from Zineldin's 5Qs model and was distributed to the respondents sitting in the waiting halls of the selected hospitals. The respondents comprised of both the patients and their attendants who were aware of e-Healthcare services and were using them.

Findings

The analysis identified quality of interaction, quality of hospital atmosphere and quality of object to be the key predictors of consumer satisfaction with e-Healthcare services. The results reveal a strong association between different demographic characteristics and overall consumer satisfaction with e-Healthcare services.

Practical implications

The results suggest that improvements in the quality of interaction, quality of hospital atmosphere and quality of object may result in higher consumer satisfaction with e-Healthcare services. Working on the identified dimensions of quality will help the e-Healthcare providers in identifying functional problems of e-Healthcare services and developing improvement strategies, which will also result in better health and quality outcomes. The results of this study will help the e-Healthcare providers in better segmentation of e-Healthcare consumers based on their demographic characteristics and in developing better marketing strategies.

Originality/value

This paper focuses on the quality of e-Healthcare services only and attempts to identify the quality dimensions, which leads to the satisfaction of e-Healthcare consumers. The identified quality dimensions will help in designing better e-Healthcare services and framing policies. It also highlights the association of demographic characteristics with important quality dimensions.

Details

International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, vol. 33 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0952-6862

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 June 2019

Erika Cefai, Daniela Balzan, Cecilia Mercieca and Andrew Borg

The purpose of this paper is to assess the patient’s perspective on a dedicated clinic set up for patients diagnosed with an inflammatory arthritis who are being treated with a…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the patient’s perspective on a dedicated clinic set up for patients diagnosed with an inflammatory arthritis who are being treated with a biologic. It proposes that dedicated clinics offer better overall care. The aim of this quality improvement survey is to evaluate the level of patient satisfaction with this clinic and identify any unmet needs.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was based on a quality improvement survey, which was developed using Zineldin’s five qualities model and assessed various aspects pertaining to service quality and improvement. A structured interview approach was used and 44 consecutive patients were recruited.

Findings

This paper explores key aspects that influence patient satisfaction within a rheumatology outpatient setting such as education on arthritis and biologics and involvement in decision making. It provides insight on what patients value most and it also addresses organizational aspects that can have an impact on patient satisfaction. It suggests that service quality can be linked to the degree of patient satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

Direct interviewing of patients could have introduced a source of bias whilst questions are being answered. On the other hand, it provided an opportunity to clarify instantly any doubts and therefore avoiding any inadvertent errors.

Practical implications

This paper reinforces that specialized clinics enable the caring rheumatologist to provide better care for patients on biologics. Service providers should continue developing their services around the patient’s needs and perspectives in order to continue improving the service.

Social implications

Dedicated biologic clinics allow more judicious monitoring of patients who are taking these highly efficacious but costly medications.

Originality/value

This survey has reinforced that patients highly value dedicated clinics. These results strengthen the case that healthcare services should continue investing on specialized clinics.

Details

International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, vol. 32 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0952-6862

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 October 2011

Mosad Zineldin, Hatice Camgöz‐Akdağ and Valiantsina Vasicheva

This paper aims to examine the major factors affecting cumulative summation, to empirically examine the major factors affecting satisfaction and to address the question whether…

3704

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the major factors affecting cumulative summation, to empirically examine the major factors affecting satisfaction and to address the question whether patients in Kazakhstan evaluate healthcare similarly or differently from patients in Egypt and Jordan.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire, adapted from previous research, was distributed to Kazakhstan inpatients. The questionnaire contained 39 attributes about five newly‐developed quality dimensions (5Qs), which were identified to be the most relevant attributes for hospitals. The questionnaire was translated into Russian to increase the response rate and improve data quality. Almost 200 usable questionnaires were returned. Frequency distribution, factor analysis and reliability checks were used to analyze the data.

Findings

The three biggest concerns for Kazakhstan patients are: infrastructure; atmosphere; and interaction. Hospital staff's concern for patients' needs, parking facilities for visitors, waiting time and food temperature were all common specific attributes, which were perceived as concerns. These were shortcomings in all three countries. Improving health service quality by applying total relationship management and the 5Qs model together with a customer‐orientation strategy is recommended.

Practical implications

Results can be used by hospital staff to reengineer and redesign creatively their quality management processes and help move towards more effective healthcare quality strategies.

Social implications

Patients in three countries have similar concerns and quality perceptions.

Originality/value

The paper describes a new instrument and method. The study assures relevance, validity and reliability, while being explicitly change‐oriented. The authors argue that patient satisfaction is a cumulative construct, summing satisfaction as five different qualities (5Qs): object; processes; infrastructure; interaction and atmosphere.

Details

International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, vol. 24 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0952-6862

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 January 2006

Mosad Zineldin

To examine the major factors affecting patients' perception of cumulative satisfaction and to address the question whether patients in Egypt and Jordan evaluate quality of health…

8732

Abstract

Purpose

To examine the major factors affecting patients' perception of cumulative satisfaction and to address the question whether patients in Egypt and Jordan evaluate quality of health care similarly or differently.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual model including behavioural dimensions of patient‐physician relationships and patient satisfaction has been developed. As the empirical research setting, this study concerns three hospitals in Egypt and Jordan. The survey instrument in a questionnaire form was designed to achieve the research objectives. A total of 48 items (attributes) of the newly developed five quality dimensions were identified to be the most relevant. A total of 224 complete and usable questionnaires were received from the in‐patients.

Findings

Hospital C has above‐average total and dimensional qualities and patients are the most satisfied in accordance with all dimensions of services. Hospitals A and B have under‐average total qualities as the majority of patients are not satisfied with services. Comparing hospitals A and B, in the majority of dimensions (with the exception of Q5), the quality in hospital B is higher than in hospital A. Patients' satisfaction with different service quality dimensions is correlated with their willingness to recommend the hospital to others. A cure to improve the quality for health‐care services can be an application of total relationship management and the 5Qs model together with customer orientation strategy.

Practical implications

The result can be used by the hospitals to reengineer and redesign creatively their quality management processes and the future direction of their more effective health‐care quality strategies.

Originality/value

In this research a study is described involving a new instrument and a new method which assure a reasonable level of relevance, validity and reliability, while being explicitly change‐oriented. This study argues that a patient's satisfaction is a cumulative construct, summing satisfaction with five different qualities (5Qs) of the hospital: quality of object, processes, infrastructure, interaction, and atmosphere.

Details

International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, vol. 19 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0952-6862

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 December 2006

Mosad Zineldin

The purpose of the study is to examine and develop a better understanding of triangle relationship between quality, customer relationship management (CRM) and customer loyalty…

28093

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to examine and develop a better understanding of triangle relationship between quality, customer relationship management (CRM) and customer loyalty (CL) which might lead to companies' competitiveness (CC).

Design/methodology/approach

A research model (5Qs) was designed to measure satisfaction and loyalty. This model is based on two conditions: the customer database and CRM strategy are well structured; and that management control systems have the capacity to produce required data for the analysis.

Findings

Changing in quality over time within various segments or related to specific products or categories of products/services can be used as an indicator the level of loyalty. By linking infrastructure, interaction and atmosphere indicators to the quality of object and processes, researchers and managers can document which changes in CRM strategy improve the overall satisfaction and loyalty, hence the ultimate outcomes.

Practical implications

Key ways to build a strong competitive position are through customer relationship management (CRM) and product/service quality. A company has to create customer relationships that deliver value beyond the provided by the core products. This involves added tangible and intangible elements to the core products thus creating and enhancing the “product surrounding”. One necessary expecting result of the creation of value added is customer loyalty. This is an important function to ensure the fulfilment of given customer requirements and companies profits, survival and competitive positioning.

Originality/value

In this study a new technical‐functional 5 qualities model (5Qs) is created and utilized to measure the quality and loyalty. The paper suggests how to incorporate the infrastructure, interaction and atmosphere indicators into the quality of object and processes to identify changes and improvement in CRM strategies.

Details

Journal of Consumer Marketing, vol. 23 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0736-3761

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2004

Mosad Zineldin

Proposes that many of business and non‐business disciplines have much to offer logistics. Also reveals that there are many theories from other disciplines that are potentially…

4583

Abstract

Proposes that many of business and non‐business disciplines have much to offer logistics. Also reveals that there are many theories from other disciplines that are potentially relevant to the examination and study of logistics. States that becoming a more creative logistics manager is not just a matter of practicing new techniques and methodologies, but it is also about being aware of the fundamental differences between the past and current situations. Proposes that managers have to realize that the most important point is having the right type of atmosphere and environment in which employees are encouraged to create, coordinate, and improve the entire business, including facilitating a reliable network of relationships and market channels. States that total quality management (TQM) and total relationship management (TRM) may make a fruitful contribution to the logistics and supply chain management.

Details

International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, vol. 34 no. 3/4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0960-0035

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 January 2014

Mosad Zineldin, Jonas Zineldin and Valentina Vasicheva

The purpose of this paper is to identify the shortcoming of a health-care institution to reduce the medical errors (MEs) which lead to the increase of physicians and patients…

2143

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the shortcoming of a health-care institution to reduce the medical errors (MEs) which lead to the increase of physicians and patients relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Total relationship management (TRM) emphasizes the totality and the holistic nature of a relationship. It includes five generic quality dimensions (5 Qs) and measurements. 5 Qs will be used in the paper to identify the shortcoming of a health-care institution, identify and reduce the MEs which lead to the increase of the patient safety and doctors and patients satisfaction.

Findings

The paper shows that there is a need for a health-care system response to error that moves the system toward being as fail-Zero tolerant and failsafe as possible rather than one that blames the clinician who may have erred.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed 5 Qs model consists of some generic integrated dimensions.

Practical implications

Teamwork practice, holistic view and integration of different competences and recourses will allow the support of information systems, the collection of evidence about care, and efforts for continuous quality improvement.

Social implications

This research attempts to contribute to the previous academic studies and knowledge in quality of medical and health care by reducing the MEs and increasing patient safety.

Originality/value

The 5 Qs can be used as diagnostic instrument to identify and understanding of how MEs and AEs occur and suggest prevention strategies to reduce patient severity and dissatisfaction. The main goal of such prevention strategies is to reduce the probability of error occurrence and increase the probability that the error would be remedied before an inadvertent injury occurred.

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