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Comparison of User-Oriented Information Services on the Websites of Large Hospitals in China and the United States: Cross-sectional Study.
- Source :
- Journal of Medical Internet Research; Dec2021, Vol. 23 Issue 12, pN.PAG-N.PAG, 1p, 2 Charts
- Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- <bold>Background: </bold>Many people use the internet to access health care information to support health care decisions, and hospital websites can be the first point of contact to provide health care information services for consumers. However, little is known about the current information services provided by the websites of large Chinese hospitals.<bold>Objective: </bold>The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the information services of the websites of large hospitals in China and the United States. We hope that our findings will benefit hospital managers worldwide in providing service information on the web.<bold>Methods: </bold>This study adopted a cross-sectional analytical approach to evaluate the websites of large hospitals in China and the United States in 2020. A total of 300 large hospitals were randomly selected, of which half were in China and half were in the United States. Based on the 7Ps marketing mix, we identified 39 items that represent typical hospital website information services, covering the following seven dimensions: product, price, place, propagation, people, process, and physical evidence.<bold>Results: </bold>Most of the items (34/39, 87%) related to information services offered by hospital websites were less covered in China than in the United States; however, 5 items (appointments by a third-party platform, mobile payment, hospital value, hospital environment display, and physicians' profiles) had higher coverage in China. The average scores for hospital websites in China and the United States were 13.25 (SD 2.99) points and 23.16 (SD 2.76) points, respectively. Generally, high scores were given to the south areas of China and north areas of the United States.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Hospital websites in China lagged behind those in the United States with regard to information services offered. We recommend that hospital managers in China place more emphasis on the people, product, and propagation dimensions of the 7Ps marketing mix in the construction of information services on hospital websites. Through the comparison of the websites of large hospitals in China and the United States, our study findings can provide suggestions for forming standard hospital website construction guidelines worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- CHINA-United States relations
INFORMATION services
HOSPITAL building design & construction
WEBSITES
INFORMATION policy
RATINGS of hospitals
MOBILE hospitals
HOSPITALS
RESEARCH
CROSS-sectional method
INTERNET
RESEARCH methodology
MEDICAL cooperation
EVALUATION research
MARKETING
COMPARATIVE studies
MEDICAL appointments
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14394456
- Volume :
- 23
- Issue :
- 12
- Database :
- Supplemental Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Medical Internet Research
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 154477049
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.2196/27392