The Association between mHealth App Use and Healthcare Satisfaction among Clients at Outpatient Clinics: A Cross-Sectional Study in Inner Mongolia, China

Li Cao, Virasakdi Chongsuvivatwong and Edward B. McNeil
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Li Cao: Information Technology Department, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010110, China
Virasakdi Chongsuvivatwong: Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai 90110, Thailand
Edward B. McNeil: Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai 90110, Thailand

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 11, 1-11

Abstract: Mobile health (mHealth) applications (apps) have been developed in hospital settings to allocate and manage medical care services, which is one of the national strategies to improve health care in China. Little is known about the comprehensive effects of hospital-based mHealth app use on client satisfaction. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the full range of mHealth app use and satisfaction domains among clients attending outpatient clinics. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to February 2021 in twelve tertiary hospitals in Inner Mongolia. After the construction of the mHealth app use, structural equation modeling was used for data analysis. Of 1889 participants, the standardized coefficients β on environment/convenience, health information, and medical service fees were 0.11 ( p < 0.001), 0.06 ( p = 0.039), and 0.08 ( p = 0.004), respectively. However, app use was not significantly associated with satisfaction of doctor–patient communication (β = 0.05, p = 0.069), short-term outcomes (β = 0.05, p = 0.054), and general satisfaction (β = 0.02, p = 0.429). Clients of the study hospitals were satisfied with the services, but their satisfaction was not much associated with mHealth use. The limitation of the mHealth system should be improved to enhance communication and engagement among clients, doctors, and healthcare givers, as well as to pay more attention to health outcomes and satisfaction of clients.

Keywords: client; satisfaction; mHealth app use; structural equation modeling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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