The mediating role of hospital reputation in the effect of doctor reputation on patients loyalty

ABSTRACT

Health managers should measure and manage their corporate reputation and doctors’ reputations to increase patient loyalty. When a hospital is a patient's first preference, this provides a competitive advantage. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of doctors’ reputations on hospital reputations and to investigate the effect of the two variables on patient loyalty. According to the study results, a doctor's reputation positively affects hospital reputation and patient loyalty. However, hospital reputation has a stronger effect on patient loyalty than doctor's reputation. Finally, the study results note that hospital reputation and doctor's respect are not interchangeable. The reputation of the doctor and the reputation of the hospital are significant in ensuring the patient's loyalty, so healthcare professionals should develop strategies to increase them both.

KEYWORDS:

• Hospital reputation
• doctor’s reputation
• patient loyalty
• mediating role
• patient perspective

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Mahmut Akbolat

Mahmut Akbolat works as a Professor in the Department of Health Management at Sakarya University. At the same time, he continues to work as the director of the Institute of Business Administration. He has more than 100 works in the field of health management.

Mustafa Amarat

Mustafa Amarat worked as a Research Assistant at Sakarya University Health Management Department between 2016–2022. He received his doctorate from Sakarya University in the field of health management. He is currently working as an associate professor in the Department of Health Management at Ordu University.

Özgün Ünal

Özgun Ünal working as a Research Assistant at Sakarya University Health Management Department. He received his doctorate from Sakarya University in the field of health management.

Elif Saba Sütlü

Elif Saba Sütlü completed her bachelor degree in health management from Sakarya University. She continues his research on health managament.