Browsing by Subject "e-health"

This study examines how consumers experience the electronic services within the healthcare sector. The electronic services are changing the traditional patient role more into a consumer role through increased responsibilities. In order to analyze this change, the role theory was used as a theoretical framework. The purpose of this study is to analyze the role setting between patients and doctors and understand if e-health can change a passive patient role into an active and capable consumer one. Also, the way doctors are perceiving and reacting to this change was taken into account. Therefore not only patients but also doctors are being interviewed for the research. This study also examines the characteristics of service experience in health markets. Ten patients and four doctors were interviewed for this study. Electronic services in healthcare sector are constantly increasing. This trend is making patients more involved and active in the treatment process. This paper shows that the patients are ready to adopt the role of a responsible and active patient. However limitations still exist considering that not all patients are capable of using computers. This paper also shows that the traditional paternalistic doctor-patient relationship is shifting more towards a cooperative one. The patient is now more of a cooperative partner as the passive supporting cast role has switched to an active lead actor role. The doctors who were interviewed for this study also show their support for this change.