PERCEIVED SERVICE QUALITY, CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AND BEHAVIOURAL INTENTIONS TOWARDS HOSPITAL IN SABAH

Abstract

The Health system in Malaysia including hospitals, clinics, and community health agencies can be very different from other operational work environments. Healthcare systems are complex and there are many things that need to know about types of hospital operation systems, patient care, insurance, healthcare providers, and legal issues. This study aimed at examining the relationship between perceived service quality, customer satisfaction, and behavioural intentions in the context of the hospital in Sabah, Malaysia. Information from 208 respondents was used through questionnaires for the purposed of statistical data analysis using SmartPLS. The result showed only tangibles and empathy supports behavioural intentions in relation to the retail pharmacy within Malaysia. This study tested relationships of tangibles, assurance, and empathy with customer satisfaction respectively were shown to be significantly positive as well. A positive relationship between customer satisfaction and behavioural intentions was also observed in this study. As for the mediation analysis, the outcome indicated that tangibles, assurance, and empathy respectively have an indirect relationship with behavioural intentions mediated by customer satisfaction. Additional findings also showed that, while the direct effects of empathy on behavioural intentions were significant, the indirect impact was noted to be greater for behavioural intentions in connection with customer satisfaction as mediation. The result also showed that relative to other perceived service quality, empathy has the most impact on customer satisfaction as well as behavioural intentions respectively. The findings from this study significant to this industry which contribute to policymakers, service providers, and other stakeholders.