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Nonvignon, J., Aikens, M.K., Chinbuah, M.A, Abbey, M., Gyapong, M., Garshong, B.N., Fia, S. and Gyapong, J. (2010) Treatment Choices for Fevers in Children Under-Five Years in a Rural Ghanaian. Malaria Journal, 9, Article No 188.
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-9-188

has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: Patients’ Preferences of Healthcare Facilities for Quality Healthcare Services in Akwa Ibom State: A Game Theory Approach

  AUTHORS: Vincenth Udok Udeme, Ukamaka Cynthia Orumie

  KEYWORDS: Health Care Facilities, Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study, Purposive Sampling Technique, Questionnaires, Rules of Dominance

  JOURNAL NAME: American Journal of Operations Research, Vol.11 No.3, May 31, 2021

  ABSTRACT: The purpose of this work is to apply Game theory approach to determine patients’ preferences of healthcare facilities for quality healthcare in Akwa Ibom State. Cross-sectional descriptive study and purposive sampling technique were adopted in order to collect the relevant data. Factors influencing patients’ preferences of health care facilities between public and private hospitals in Akwa Ibom State were assessed using a set of questionnaires which were distributed to 9976 patients in University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. A two-person zero sum game theory approach was applied. Perception of quality healthcare services received by respondent’s preferred facilities between public and private hospitals was examined. Also the reasons for patients’ persistence of their preferred facilities were evaluated using questionnaire. The optimal strategy and the value of the game were determined using the factors influencing patients’ preferences of healthcare facilities, and analysed with two-person-zero-sum game. Facility that gives their clients the best satisfaction was identified. The data collected through questionnaire were analysed using the rules of dominance in a two-person-zero-sum game and TORA statistical software was employed. The result shows that the value of the game, v = 330 which implies that the game is favourable to public hospital. The result also showed that patients preferred public hospitals due to costs of services with probability one (1), while private hospitals attributed their preferences to attitude of healthcare providers with probability one (1).