• Key Factors Influencing Intention to Accept“Taiwan Diagnosis-Related Groups

Abstract

This study investigates the key factors that affect stakeholders’ intention to accept Taiwan Diagnosis-Related Groups (Tw-DRGs). The literature shows that the factor most strongly influence the acceptance of Tw-DRGs is the length of hospital stay policy. Participants in the qualitative interview included patients in the orthopedic department of a Taipei regional hospital and their companions during their hospital stay. Factors that affect the intention to accept the length of hospital stay were explored in this study, and the relationships among them were verified using quantitative analysis. This study uses the theory of planned behavior to develop the hypotheses.

The research results show that the sense of security and perceived service quality of the stakeholders are the main factors influencing attitude and behavior. The results also show that both have a positive influence on the intention to accept the limited length of hospital stay of Tw-DRGs. Other factors that may affect the intention to accept are the following: (1) attitude toward control of the length of hospital stay; (2) perception of the limited length of stay by patients’ relatives or companions in the hospital; and (3) financial capacity to cope with the extended hospital stay once the length of stay has been reached. The hospital system should improve the attitudes of stakeholders’ regarding policies on Tw-DRGs. This study can help hospitals understand how to encourage patients to accept Tw-DRG policies on the length of hospital stays. This study can deliver some positive advices to make policy in Tw-DRGs more applicable to Taiwan’s medical policy system. Furthermore, the results can guide decision-makers in effectively reforming Taiwan health insurance policy.

Keywords: Taiwan Diagnosis-Related Groups (Tw-DRGs), Health Insurance, Hospital Management, Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), Behavioral Intention.