Title: Using Q methodology to classify users' value types on hospital websites

Authors: Chung-Chu Liu

Addresses: Department of Business Administration, National Taipei University, 151, University Rd., San Shia, New Taipei 237, Taiwan

Abstract: The purpose of this research is to construct hospital websites' user types based on their perceptions. The item analysis method was used to collect data. Q methodology was then adopted to analyse data. Thirty participants were selected. According to the results, hospital website user types can be categorised into five types: Emergent Communicators, Online Consultants, Convenient Providers, Privacy Protectors and Information disclosure. The results of this study expose the situation of hospital website user types. They also supply hospitals with useful references with which they can better understand users.

Keywords: communication; hospital websites; user perceptions; Q methodology; value types; user types; website users; healthcare websites; e-healthcare; electronic healthcare.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTPM.2013.053097

International Journal of Technology, Policy and Management, 2013 Vol.13 No.2, pp.190 - 205

Published online: 29 Sep 2014 *

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