Impact of COVID-19 prevention measures on health service quality, perceived value and user satisfaction. A structural equation modelling (SEM) approach

Objective: To explain using a structural equation model to patient satisfaction by analysing confidence in preventive measures against COVID-19 as an antecedent of this satisfaction and the effect that these measures have on the antecedents of service quality and perceived value. Design: An observational cross-sectional study. Site: Online survey was sent via social networks for recruiting citizens resident in Spain. Participants: The final sample consisted of 149 women and 122 men. The mean age of the participants was 36.73 years, all of whom were health service users. Interventions: No interventions were conducted in the study. Main measurements: The study variables for the development of the structural equation model were: confidence in COVID-19 safety protocol, perceived value, quality and user satisfaction. Results: The results showed a direct and positive effect of confidence in COVID-19 safety protocol on the quality of services provided, perceived value and user satisfaction. Conclusions: The study is expected to be of interest to those in charge of designing protective measures against the spread of diseases, health centre managers and marketing professionals interested in the improvement user satisfaction, affected as a result of the current pandemic. (c) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Automated summary

This study explains the impact of confidence in COVID-19 preventive measures on patient satisfaction using a structural equation model, and analyzes the effect of these measures on service quality and perceived value. The results indicate that confidence has a positive direct effect on service quality, perceived value, and user satisfaction.