A Study of Patient Relationship Management in Continuum of Care: A Case Study in Government Hospitals of Chhattisgarh
Abstract
This research investigates the role of Patient Relationship Management (PRM) in enhancing patient satisfaction in government hospitals of Chhattisgarh, India, emphasizing the contributions of Information Technology (IT) and the Continuum of Care (CoC). A quantitative research design was employed, collecting data from 440 patients across district hospitals, community health centers, and medical colleges using a structured questionnaire adapted from validated scales (PAM, SERVQUAL, PSQ-18). Descriptive statistics indicated that 59.3% of respondents were aged 25-34 years, with 69.2% female. Inferential analyses, including Chi-square tests (χ²=18.92, p<0.01), t-tests (p>0.05 for gender), ANOVA (F=4.62, p<0.01), Pearson correlations (loyalty: r=0.631; trust: r=0.598; IT: r=0.453), and regression analysis (R²=0.532, β for IT=0.312, p<0.01), confirmed significant relationships between PRM, IT, CoC, and patient satisfaction. IT was a strong predictor of satisfaction (β=0.586, p<0.01), explaining 34.2% of the variance, and structured care plans significantly enhanced outcomes (χ²=18.92, p<0.01). The findings highlight the need for integrating advanced IT solutions (e.g., Electronic Health Records, telemedicine) and structured CoC plans to improve patient experiences and health outcomes in public healthcare settings, particularly for younger and rural populations. Policy implications include investing in IT infrastructure and CoC frameworks to advance universal healthcare goals in resource-constrained environments.