Not Without my Fellow Patient! – The Influence of Fellow Patients in Hospitals on Patient Satisfaction and Self-rated Health

Abstract

Fellow patients are the people with whom hospital patients spend the most time. Research has shown that the fellow patient influences anxiety, pre- and post-operative stress, compliance, and negative feelings. A few studies have even shown that contact with other patients influences long-term satisfaction with the hospital, and self-rated health. These different factors influence each other via complex interactions. In this study, we analyze these complex interactions by building a theory-based model and testing the model using two empirical studies. The results provide relevant implications for further research and for hospital management.