Influence of Patient's Satisfaction to Marketing Mix on Trust and Relationship Commitment

Abstract

This study classifies the marketing mix of LASIK eye surgery clinics into 7Ps, examines the influence of each factor of 7Ps(product, place, price, promotion, process, people and physical evidence) on customer satisfaction, and investigates the effect of customer satisfaction on trust and relationship commitment. Survey of 500 patients who received surgeries in 3 eye clinics in Busan area was conducted through self-administered questionnaires, and, with this data, path analysis was performed to estimate the study model. Main result showed that, among 7Ps, product, price, promotion, people and physical evidence had significant positive effect on customer satisfaction which, in turn, had significant positive effect on trust and relationship commitment. Also, it was found that trust positively affected relationship commitment. This result would be considered helpful in medical institution's efforts to establish trust on customer satisfaction and maintain relationship commitment. It also implies that, in order to enhance competitiveness in increasingly competitive medical market, establishment of proper marketing strategy is urgently required where the determinants of customer satisfaction are effectively administered and ultimate relationship commitment of customers based on trust can be maintained and enhanced.