Digital marketing strategies and international patients’ satisfaction: an empirical study in Jordanian health service industry

Authors

  • Ghazi A. Al-Weshah Department of Marketing, Faculty of Business, Al-Balqa Applied University
  • Dana F. Kakeesh Department of Marketing, School of Business, The University of Jordan
  • Noor A. Al-Ma'aitah Department of Business Administration, School of Business, Mutah University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25115/eea.v39i7.4811

Keywords:

Digital marketing, patients’ satisfaction, health service industry, search engine optimization, social media networks, e-mail marketing

Abstract

The study aims at investigating the role of digital marketing strategies in enhancing international patients’ satisfaction in Jordanian healthcare industry. Specifically, the effect of search engine optimization, social media networks, and e-mail marketing as digital marketing strategies on international patients’ satisfaction. The quantitative approach is adopted and 400 questionnaires are distributed using convenient sample to international patients in different health service organizations (HSO). Only 310 questionnaires were collected with response rate 78%. The study concluded that there is a significant effect of digital marketing strategies on international patients’ satisfaction in Jordanian health service industry. Moreover, each digital marketing strategies (search engine optimization, social media networks, and e-mail marketing) have a significant effect on international patients’ satisfaction in Jordanian health service industry. Moreover, social media networks are the most important strategy which are employed to enhance patients’ satisfaction in HSOs. The study recommends that HSOs have to take the advantages of digital marketing strategies in order to enhance patients’ satisfaction. Practical implications and directions for future research are proposed.

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Author Biographies

Ghazi A. Al-Weshah, Department of Marketing, Faculty of Business, Al-Balqa Applied University

Dr. Ghazi A. Al-Weshah is a Professor of Marketing, CEO of Al-Balqa Electronic Academy, and Director of Jordanian- Korean Center for ICT- Information Access Center, Al-Balqa Applied University,  Jordan. He has experience in teaching, training, and consultations with local and international organizations.  Dr. Al-Weshah was awarded his PhD in Marketing from The University of Wales- UK in 2010. Dr. Al-Weshah has published about 27 research papers in the field of marketing and management in international refereed journals. Ghazi Al-Weshah can be connected by weshah120@yahoo.com. Or  Ghazi.al-weshah@bau.edu.jo

Dana F. Kakeesh, Department of Marketing, School of Business, The University of Jordan

Dana Kakeesh is an Assistant Professor of Marketing, at The School of Business, University of Jordan, Jordan. Also she served as an Assistant Dean for Development and Quality Assurance between for the academic years of 2017 and 2018. She started her academic career in 2008 as a Research and Teaching Assistant at the Department of Marketing, at the same school before receiving her PhD from the York Management School, the University of York, UK in 2016. Her research interests are services marketing, tourism marketing, brand management and digital marketing.

Noor A. Al-Ma'aitah, Department of Business Administration, School of Business, Mutah University

Dr. Noor Al-Ma'aitah is Associate Professor of Management at Mutah University, Jordan, specializing in supply chain and quality management, particularly supply chain relationships in the Middle East region and its ramifications for quality performance. Dr. Noor has been awarded her PhD  from University of Kent, UK. Her research interests include  culture effectiveness, and supplier-buyer relationship, TQM, and HR practices. Dr. Noor can be connected by nmaaitah@mutah.edu.jo.

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Published

2021-07-20 — Updated on 2021-08-16

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