Information Searching Behavior of Health Care Consumers by Types of Medical Institutions

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the information searching behavior of consumer by type of medical institution. A questionnaire survey was conducted of 1,507 persons who were selected through a multi-stage stratified area cluster sampling in nationwide level, excluding Jeju-Do. Personal survey was conducted through door-to door survey from 27 July to 10 August 1999. The main results of this research was as following; 1. The proportion of information searching of respondents ranged from 91.5-95.2%. Even though the proportion of user in university hospital was slightly high, there was not significant statistically by type of medical institution. In terms of information source, personal informer was most common information source in all type of medical institution. Public informers were more frequently used in university hospital visitors and professional informer in general and university hospital visitors. 2. Comparing to searching intensity, user informer and professional informer's influences were more powerful, but not statistically significant. In analysis of unit influence for information source, written informer or public informer was more powerful in clinic visitor, professional informer and written informer in university hospital visitor. 3. Information which consumer want to know mostly were about on special potential and career of physician. The clinic visitor wanted to know about institutional location and kindness of medical personnel. The university hospital visitor also wanted to know about facilities and convenience of process. Comparing to institution selection criteria of consumers at 1991, quality related criteria were recognized more importantly in outpatient and dental services. But in case of inpatient services, convenience factor was recognized more importantly. In conclusion, the effort for specific marketing plan by type of medical institution should be needed. And more concern on information searching behavior of consumer will be needed.ope