earticle

영어

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of provider and consumer characteristics, and patient trust on relational commitment among healthcare customers of an university hospital, and to suggest some implications for improving customer relation management of hospitals. Data were collected from 250 patients of an university hospital located in Ulsan using structured self-administered questionnaire. Major result of the analysis is as follows: First, study variables are significantly varied by age and income among socio-economic factors. Second, assurance, and empathy among provider characteristics and customer satisfaction and reputation among consumer characteristics are found to be significant affecting factors on patient trust. Third, trust affects significantly both on re-visit and recommendation among relationship commitment, while reputation affects on re-visit and customer satisfaction and reputation affect on recommendation. Above results imply that relationship management strategy for enhancing patient trust is crucial to improve competitiveness of hospitals in turbulent competition environment.