The Role of Public Relations Activities in Hospital Choice |
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| Authors: | Dilaver Tengilimoglu PhD Mehmet Yesiltas PhD Adnan Kisa PhD Sophia F. Dziegielewski PhD LCSW |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Faculty of Business and Tourism Education , Gazi University , Golbasi, Ankara, Turkey;2. Baskent University, School of Health Sciences, Department of Health Administration , Ankara, Turkey;3. School of Social Work, University of Cincinnati , Cincinnati, Ohio |
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| Abstract: | Public relations activities for all organizations can have an important effect on consumer decision-making when buying goods or services. This study examines the effect that public relations activities can have regarding consumer decisions and choice. To explore exemplify this relationship a questionnaire was given to 971 patients within public, university and private hospitals in Ankara, Turkey. Study results show that public relations activities were a crucial factor in determining consumer hospital choice. The majority of respondents reported that the behaviors and attitude of personnel as public relations activities that support the hospital's reputation within the public were the primary variables in hospital choice. Health care managers can use these findings to further understand how patients make informed choices related to usage of a health care facility and to develop and/or improve public relations activities. |
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| Keywords: | Public relations hospital choice image reputation |
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