OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the health information such as the general health information, the health product information, and the hospital information, and we wanted to identify the association between internet health information and the health related behavior by analyzing the process after people search the Internet. METHODS: A telephone survey with structured questionnaire was performed by trained surveyors. The respondents were sampled proportionate to the Korean demographic distribution with considering the city size and the populations' ages and gender. The survey was conducted from October 2006 to November 2006. RESULTS: Out of 3,758 successfully connected persons of age 20 or more, 871(23.2%) respondents had used Internet health information during the last year. The purposes of searching the Internet for health was, 1) to get general health information (717 cases, 81.0%), 2) shopping for health product (109 cases, 12.3%) and 3) seeking information about hospital selection (59 cases, 6.7%). Our research showed that the process after searching the Internet for health information depends on the purpose of the search. 68.8% of the searchers for general health information, 67% of the searchers for health product shopping and 64.4% of the searchers seeking information to guide hospital selection were satisfied with their Internet search. However one third of the respondents reported not being satisfied with the result of the search. CONCLUSIONS: Unsatisfied consumers with internet health information tended to ask lay referrals from others or they gave up seeking health information. The health information system should be improved to increase the accessibility and to provide reliable and effective information. Also, a more user-centric community is needed in order to strengthen the effective role of lay referrals among the internet users.
Adult ; Consumer Health Information/*methods ; *Consumer Satisfaction ; Educational Status ; Female ; *Health Behavior ; Health Status ; Humans ; *Internet ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Residence Characteristics

OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to obtain basic data required to plan and develop consumer-centered internet health information site for Korean population. METHODS: An internet survey was conducted on 5 internet patient community sites between 23 January and 5 February, 2007. A total of 958 surveys were completed and included in the study. Data were analyzed with descriptive analysis, Pearson's correlation analysis, and stepwise logistic regression analysis using SPSS version 12.0. RESULTS: According to our logistic regression analysis, the more internet usage, foreign country residents, members of breast cancer internet community, any workers except sales, and higher level of necessity/usefulness/reliability showed a higher Odds ratio for frequency of internet health information usage. Educational status, frequency of using internet, importance, necessity, usefulness, reliability of internet health information (p<.001), income, and satisfaction of internet health information (p<.05) were statistically significant in the frequency of internet health information usage. CONCLUSION: Above characteristics should be considered for planning to develop consumer-centered internet health information portals.
Breast Neoplasms ; Commerce ; Consumer Health Information ; Consumer Satisfaction* ; Educational Status ; Humans ; Internet* ; Logistic Models ; Odds Ratio

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the causal relationships among quality of hospital SCM (system quality, information quality, service quality), perceived usefulness, user satisfaction and logistics performance by hospital staff. METHODS: A survey using a structured questionnaire was conducted with 276 hospital staff. Analysis of the data was with both SPSS Win 18.0 for descriptive statistics and AMOS 8.0 for the structural equation model. RESULTS: The hypothetical model yielded Chi-square=8.121 (p=.087), df=4, chi2/df=2.030. GFI=.989, AGFI=.942, RMSEA=.066, NFI=.995, CFI=.997 TLI=.990 and showed good fit indices. Three dimensions of quality of SCM had significant direct effects on perceived usefulness. System and service of quality of SCM had significant direct effects on user satisfaction. Perceived usefulness had significant direct effects on user satisfaction. User satisfaction had significant direct effects on logistics performance. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that logistics performance can be enhanced by user satisfaction, user satisfaction can be enhanced by perceived usefulness, and perceived usefulness can be enhanced by quality of hospital SCM. Further study with various hospitals and various variables is necessary.
Consumer Satisfaction ; Equipment and Supplies ; Information Systems ; Organization and Administration ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the causal relationships of perceived risk, satisfaction, switching cost and loyalty in outpatient health services. METHOD: A survey using a structured questionnaire was conducted with 393 hospital outpatients. The analysis of data was done with both SPSS Win 17.0 for descriptive statistics and AMOS 18.0 for structural equation model. RESULTS: The causal model yielded Chi-square=31.44 (p=<.001), df=4, GFI=.98, AGFI=.87, CFI=.97, RMSR=.04, NFI=.96, IFI=.97 and showed relatively good fit indices. Perceived risk had a significant direct effect on customer satisfaction. Customer satisfaction, financial switching cost and relational switching cost had significant direct effects on customer loyalty. Perceived risk and customer satisfaction had significant indirect effects on customer loyalty. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that we should decrease the perceived risk and improve the customer satisfaction and switching cost to retain loyal customers. Further study with both a larger sample from various hospitals and a longitudinal design is necessary.
Ambulatory Care ; Consumer Satisfaction ; Humans ; Outpatients ; Surveys and Questionnaires

This study is basic research focused on product development and market activation based on analysis of current usage and demand for development of processed blue crabs. A total of 556 subjects aged 20s to 60s living in the Seoul area were surveyed. According to the survey, 65.1% of subjects consumed blue crabs at home, and 82% of them purchased blue crabs whole and undressed. Respondents gave higher marks to taste, nutrition, and texture compared to ingredient preparation, eating method, and price. Majority of blue crab consumers had no experiences of consuming processed blue crabs. Exactly 57.0% of consumers purchased them at big shopping centers, and the reason for purchasing was their good taste. When female consumers purchased processed blue crabs, they checked every part carefully compared to male consumers. Women gave high scores to blue crab powder, blue crab extract, blue crab croquette, and blue crab cake compared to men, demonstrating the necessity of developing processed blue crabs. Furthermore, the experienced processed blue crab group recognized the necessity of developing processed blue crabs compared to the inexperienced group. People showed significant differences in purchasing processed blue crabs according to gender as well as previous experience of blue crab consumption.
Brachyura* ; Consumer Satisfaction ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Eating ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Seoul

PURPOSE: The consumers' preferences are not considered in developing or implementing new medical technologies. Furthermore, little efforts are made to investigate their demands. Therefore, their preferred surgical method and the factors affecting that preference were investigated in pancreatic surgery. METHODS: Six-hundred subjects including 100 medical personnel (MP) and 500 lay persons (LP) were surveyed. Questionnaire included basic information on different methods of distal pancreatectomy; open surgery (OS), laparoscopic surgery (LS), and robotic surgery (RS). Assuming they required the operation, participants were told to indicate their preferred method along with a reason and an acceptable cost for both benign and malignant conditions. RESULTS: For benign disease, the most preferred method was LS. Limiting the choice to LS and RS, LS was preferred for cost and well-established safety and efficacy. OS was favored in malignant disease for the concern for radicality. Limiting the choice to LS and RS, LS was favored for its better-established safety and efficacy. The majority thought that LS and RS were both overpriced. Comparing MP and LP responses, both groups preferred LS in benign and OS in malignant conditions. However, LP more than MP tended to prefer RS under both benign and malignant conditions. LP thought that LS was expensive whereas MP thought the cost reasonable. Both groups felt that RS was too expensive. CONCLUSION: Though efforts for development of novel techniques and broadening indication should be encouraged, still more investments and research should focus on LS and OS to provide optimal management and satisfaction to the patients.
Consumer Satisfaction ; Humans ; Investments ; Laparoscopy ; Methods ; Pancreas ; Pancreatectomy ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: The SERVQUAL scale is based on gap theory, which suggests the difference between consumers' expectations and the quality of the medical service actually received. However, problems in the implementation of the SERVQUAL scale have been identified by several researchers. Some researchers have proposed a simple performance-based measure (SERVPERF) or an expectation-controlled performance-based measure(Non-Diff) as alternatives to the SERVQUAL scale. On the basis of the theoretical concerns discussed, we examined the capability of each of the three scales(SERVQUAL, Non-Diff, SERVPERF) to explain variations in consumer satisfaction. METHODS: Data was gathered from a self-administered questionnaire in a 430 bed hospital. Questionnaires evaluating medical services were distributed to 180 ambulatory patients. A total of 167 usable questionnaires were gathered. The questionnaire was composed of 10 expectation, performance and expectation-controlled performance items. In addition, overall satisfaction and purchase intention were measured. RESULTS: Compared with the SERVQUAL scale, the Non-Diff and SERVPERF scales better explained the observed variations in consumer satisfaction(SERVQUAL, R2=0.29; Non-Diff, R2=0.51; SERVPERF, R2=0.48) and purchase intention(SERVQUAL, R2=0.22; Non-Diff, R2=0.33; SERVPERF, R2=0.34). CONCLUSION: The major conclusion from our study is that the Non-Diff and SERVPERF scales are more efficient in assessing consumer satisfaction than the SERVQUAL scale. Therefore we suggest that consumer satisfaction be measured by the Non-Diff or SEVPERF scales.
Consumer Satisfaction* ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Humans ; Intention ; Questionnaires ; Weights and Measures

In this paper, we relate the concepts of “You Only Live Once,” delayed gratification, theories of persuasion as used in communication, and economics. We illustrate behavioral changes across generations and seek to explain these changes using a combined framework of communication, psychology, and economics. These concepts are then juxtaposed with the present COVID-19 crisis in terms of both health and economic implications. To provide a human face to the discussion, we describe our experiences as consumers, savers, and investors, thus demonstrating the application of these concepts to our own microeconomies. Philosophically peaking, a decision to do something in the present and a decision to defer something for the future are both acts of faith. We propose the use of theories of persuasion to demonstrate the risk in an overreliance on present orientation. We suggest diversification, not only in investment outlets, but also in temporal orientation, i.e., while people can and should enjoy the present, they should not do so by ignoring the future.
Consumer Behavior

This paper is a result of experimental studies on family planning in Koyang county, a rural setting of Korea. The Koyang experience has shown that the acceptance of IUD is heavily dependent on two factors: the distance from the village to the IUD service clinic and the extent of side reactions: and unfavorable rumors about its use in the community. While the problem of distance was solved by sending out mobile teams or by establishing new clinics in the villages, the problem of side reaction and unfavorable rumors still remained. This study was set up to see whether the organization of mothers' classes could be a means to promote the acceptance and retention of IUDs. The mothers' class was organized in each village (hamlet), and the membership was opened to every women in the village. It was hypothesized that the mothers, class with the proper educational materials will work as an adequate educational program to offset rumors and to make a favorable social climate for accepting and retaining the IUD. The field experiment was conducted according to the "before-after" design with a control group. It was found that the educational program in the mothers' class was effective in promoting the acceptance and retention of contraceptive practice, particularly the IUD.
Adult ; Consumer Participation* ; Consumer Satisfaction* ; Family Planning ; Female ; Health Education* ; Human ; Intrauterine Devices*/standards ; Korea ; Middle Age

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the functional characteristics of hardware and software in Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) in dental hospitals and examined the impact of the functional characteristics on user satisfaction, ease of use, and usefulness of PACS. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on dentists at 20 dental hospitals. The dentists assessed the functional characteristics of PACS, and also evaluated the outcomes of PACS use such as user satisfaction, ease of use, and usefulness. For each outcome variable, regression analysis was performed to determine the significant functional characteristics influencing each outcome variable. RESULTS: The image quality of device and the diagnosis-supporting function served as the most important factors in user satisfaction. Experience of the PACS system was correlated with ease of use. Dentists specialized in oral maxillofacial surgery evaluated PACS very useful, and intention to participation in education in the future showed significant correlation with usefulness. The more experience of using PACS system and concern about education, the higher usefulness for the system. CONCLUSIONS: This study has significance in that it can be used as reference for constructing high-efficiency system in dental hospitals adopting the PACS system and also in companies producing the system.
Consumer Satisfaction ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dental Informatics ; Dentists ; Hospital Information Systems ; Humans ; Intention ; Surgery, Oral