Effect of patient-related factors on hospitalization service satisfaction and recommendation intention of medical institutions in Korea

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the factors that influence the 'Overall Satisfaction' and 'Intention to Recommend' of medical institutions used using the Korea Medical Service Experience Survey (2019–2021). DATA SOURCES: This study used the data of Medical Service Experience Survey in Korea. The data collected for data analysis were from 2019 to 2021 (Medical service period: 2018.07.01. ~ 2021.06.30). STUDY DESIGN: The 2019 Medical Service Experience Survey was conducted from July 8 to September 20, 2019, and a total of 12,507 people (Medical service period: 2018.07.01. ~ 2019.06.30) were collected. The 2020 survey was conducted from July 13 to October 9, 2020, and a total of 12,133 people (Medical service period: 2019.07.01 ~ 2020.06.30.) were collected. The 2021 survey was conducted from July 19 to September 17, 2021), and a total of 13,547 people were collected (Medical service period: 2020.07.01. ~ 2021.06.30). Overall satisfaction and recommendation intentions for medical institutions consist of a Likert 5-point scale. At this time, the Top-box rating model used in the United States was applied. DATA COLLECTIONS/EXTRACTION METHODS: In this study, only those who used inpatient services (15 years of age or older) were included because they spent a long time in a medical institution and had an intensive experience, and a total of 1,105 subjects were included in the analysis. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Self-rated health and the type of bed influenced overall satisfaction with medical institutions. In addition, the type of economic activity, living area, self-rated health, the type of bed, and the type of nursing service affected the intention to recommend. And it was confirmed that overall satisfaction with medical institutions and intention to recommend them were higher in the 2021 survey than in 2019. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that government policy on resources and systems is important. Through the case of Korea, it was found that the policy of reducing multi-person beds and expansion of integrated nursing service had a significant impact on patients' experience of using medical institutions and improving the quality of care.