How AI-powered consultation services in internet hospitals influence patient satisfaction: A structural analysis

Objective This study explores how AI-powered consultation services in internet hospitals influence patient satisfaction through perceived value and emotions. A dual-path analytical framework was developed: the technical path uses the E-S-QUAL model to assess the quality of intelligent consultation g...

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Main Authors: Junkai Wang, Linru Fu, Zeguang Huang, Kan Hu, Zhizhuo Lin, Qiuhong Tang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-07-01
Series:Digital Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251358673
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author Junkai Wang
Linru Fu
Zeguang Huang
Kan Hu
Zhizhuo Lin
Qiuhong Tang
author_facet Junkai Wang
Linru Fu
Zeguang Huang
Kan Hu
Zhizhuo Lin
Qiuhong Tang
author_sort Junkai Wang
collection DOAJ
description Objective This study explores how AI-powered consultation services in internet hospitals influence patient satisfaction through perceived value and emotions. A dual-path analytical framework was developed: the technical path uses the E-S-QUAL model to assess the quality of intelligent consultation guidance services in terms of efficiency, system availability, privacy, and fulfillment; the experiential path is based on the Patient Experience-Driven Model, which integrates service encounter theory (focusing on patient-system interactions) and the Stimulus–Organism–Response theory (explaining how external stimuli trigger psychological and behavioral responses). Methods The dual-path framework includes two submodels. The technical path examines how service quality dimensions affect patient satisfaction through perceived value (i.e., patients’ subjective evaluation of the service's usefulness and reliability). The experiential path investigates how service encounters—including interaction, recommendation, and security—indirectly influence satisfaction via perceived value and patient emotions. A structural equation model was applied to analyze data from 1113 valid survey responses. Results Both paths significantly influenced satisfaction. Fulfillment and privacy had the most significant effects in the technical path. In the experiential path, service encounters impacted satisfaction through perceived value and emotions. Emotions acted as psychological amplifiers, with positive emotions enhancing the positive effect of perceived value on satisfaction, while negative emotions weakened this effect. Notably, service encounters suppressed negative emotions more strongly than they enhanced positive ones. Conclusions This study clarifies the dual role of technical service quality and emotional experience in shaping patient satisfaction, providing theoretical and practical insights for optimizing AI-powered healthcare consultations.
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spelling doaj-art-f08405edcd5b4fa39b1bbe76aa43d7cd2025-08-20T02:46:05ZengSAGE PublishingDigital Health2055-20762025-07-011110.1177/20552076251358673How AI-powered consultation services in internet hospitals influence patient satisfaction: A structural analysisJunkai Wang0Linru Fu1Zeguang Huang2Kan Hu3Zhizhuo Lin4Qiuhong Tang5 School of Business, , Nanning, China School of Computer Science and Engineering, , Guilin, China Information Technology Department, , Zhanjiang, China Information Technology Department, , Zhanjiang, China Information Technology Department, , Zhanjiang, China School of Business, , Nanning, ChinaObjective This study explores how AI-powered consultation services in internet hospitals influence patient satisfaction through perceived value and emotions. A dual-path analytical framework was developed: the technical path uses the E-S-QUAL model to assess the quality of intelligent consultation guidance services in terms of efficiency, system availability, privacy, and fulfillment; the experiential path is based on the Patient Experience-Driven Model, which integrates service encounter theory (focusing on patient-system interactions) and the Stimulus–Organism–Response theory (explaining how external stimuli trigger psychological and behavioral responses). Methods The dual-path framework includes two submodels. The technical path examines how service quality dimensions affect patient satisfaction through perceived value (i.e., patients’ subjective evaluation of the service's usefulness and reliability). The experiential path investigates how service encounters—including interaction, recommendation, and security—indirectly influence satisfaction via perceived value and patient emotions. A structural equation model was applied to analyze data from 1113 valid survey responses. Results Both paths significantly influenced satisfaction. Fulfillment and privacy had the most significant effects in the technical path. In the experiential path, service encounters impacted satisfaction through perceived value and emotions. Emotions acted as psychological amplifiers, with positive emotions enhancing the positive effect of perceived value on satisfaction, while negative emotions weakened this effect. Notably, service encounters suppressed negative emotions more strongly than they enhanced positive ones. Conclusions This study clarifies the dual role of technical service quality and emotional experience in shaping patient satisfaction, providing theoretical and practical insights for optimizing AI-powered healthcare consultations.https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251358673
spellingShingle Junkai Wang
Linru Fu
Zeguang Huang
Kan Hu
Zhizhuo Lin
Qiuhong Tang
How AI-powered consultation services in internet hospitals influence patient satisfaction: A structural analysis
Digital Health
title How AI-powered consultation services in internet hospitals influence patient satisfaction: A structural analysis
title_full How AI-powered consultation services in internet hospitals influence patient satisfaction: A structural analysis
title_fullStr How AI-powered consultation services in internet hospitals influence patient satisfaction: A structural analysis
title_full_unstemmed How AI-powered consultation services in internet hospitals influence patient satisfaction: A structural analysis
title_short How AI-powered consultation services in internet hospitals influence patient satisfaction: A structural analysis
title_sort how ai powered consultation services in internet hospitals influence patient satisfaction a structural analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251358673
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