The Impact of Hospital Food Quality on Hospitalized Patient Satisfaction: The Role of Emotional Well-being and Perceived Value
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71164/socialmedicine.v19i1.2026.2095Keywords:
hospital food quality, patient satisfaction, emotional well-being, perceived value, patient-centered careAbstract
Hospital food services are a critical yet often overlooked component of patient-centered care. This study investigates how perceived hospital food quality influences patient satisfaction, with emotional well-being as a mediator and perceived value as a moderator. Drawing on Affect-as-Information Theory and Perceived Value Theory, a survey was conducted among 209 inpatients at a tertiary hospital in Luoyang, China, and data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) in SmartPLS. The results indicate that perceived food quality significantly enhances patient satisfaction both directly and indirectly through emotional well-being, with the effect amplified when patients perceive greater value in hospital services. These findings highlight the psychological and experiential dimensions of hospital meals and suggest practical strategies for improving patient satisfaction through non-clinical services.
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