Investigating Patient Choice Deferral in Selecting Appropriate Hospital

Aims: Patient decision-making process can become lengthy and overwhelming. Procrastination in visiting a hospital can have adverse effects on a patient's health. This study aims to investigate how attitudinal ambivalence affects psychological discomfort and choice deferral in hospital selection. Additionally, the study explores the role of information novelty in reducing choice deferral and accelerating patient decision-making. Instrument & Methods: The research employed a quantitative approach using a causal study to examine the relationships among variables. The sampling method used purposive sampling to obtain data based on certain criteria. Data collection was conducted through a questionnaire distributed to patients. The research sample consisted of ۳۸۵ respondents from private hospitals in Indonesia. Data examination used the Hayes PROCESS Macro software to investigate variable relationships. Findings: The results suggest that attitudinal ambivalence impacts psychological discomfort, which, in turn, leads to patient choice deferral, i.e., hesitating to visit a hospital. The study found that psychological discomfort partially mediates the relationship between attitudinal ambivalence and choice deferral. Furthermore, the research also found that information novelty can reduce attitudinal ambivalence and psychological discomfort, and thus diminish the effect of choice deferral. Therefore, information novelty is considered a significant factor in reducing patient choice deferral Conclusion: The research implies that hospitals need to improve communication with their patients. Limited information can lead to information asymmetry, which can encourage attitudinal ambivalence and psychological discomfort. Providing comprehensive information to patients through digital media can help reduce anxiety and enhance their treatment experience in the hospital.

Keywords:

Psychological Discomfort , Choice Deferral , Information Novelty , Attitudinal Ambivalence