title: The role of public relations activities in hospital choice.
abstract: Public relations activities for all organizations can have an important effect on consumer decision-making when buying goods or services. This study examines the effect that public relations activities can have regarding consumer decisions and choice. To explore exemplify this relationship a questionnaire was given to 971 patients within public, university and private hospitals in Ankara, Turkey. Study results show that public relations activities were a crucial factor in determining consumer hospital choice. The majority of respondents reported that the behaviors and attitude of personnel as public relations activities that support the hospital's reputation within the public were the primary variables in hospital choice. Health care managers can use these findings to further understand how patients make informed choices related to usage of a health care facility and to develop and/or improve public relations activities.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Business and Tourism Education, Gazi University, Golbasi, Ankara, Turkey. dilaver@gazi.edu.tr
authors.forename: Dilaver
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tengilimoglu
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yesiltas
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kisa
authors.forename: Sophia F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Dziegielewski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003256:Community Participation; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010565:Persuasive Communication; D011641:Public Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult