Healthcare service quality: what really matters to the female patient?

Purpose – This paper aims to develop a model that encompasses the constructs and sub-constructs consumers use in evaluating healthcare service quality (HSQ) in Egypt.

Design/methodology/approach – Factor analysis was performed on 40 variables to identify the constructs. Ordinal logistic regression was also used to identify the sub-constructs and examine the effect of each sub-construct on patients’ overall perception of service quality. 

Findings – Factor analysis confirmed an eight-construct framework: hospital premises and employees; doctor medical service; nursing medical service; diagnostic medical service; admission; discharge; rooms and housekeeping; and meals. Ordinal logistic regression established 17 sub-constructs – physician reliability; physician assurance; physician interaction; physician’s competence; nursing tangibles; nursing reliability; nursing assurance; nursing interaction; nursing responsiveness; diagnostic service competence; diagnostic service reliability; hospital premises and employees tangibles; admission responsiveness; admission knowledge and courtesy; meals tangibles; rooms tangibles and housekeeping courtesy; and discharge knowledge and courtesy – that have significant effect on HSQ. Some sub-constructs had a significantly greater impact on overall perception of service quality than others.

Practical implications – Healthcare providers will be able to pinpoint areas of service quality shortfall and better satisfy their patients. This will ultimately lead to repeat patronage and positive recommendation behavior.

Originality/value – The model is the first comprehensive model in the Middle East that takes into account all constructs and sub-constructs patients use for evaluation of HSQ.