Effect of relation or effect of investment? Procedural justice and physician authority as factors shaping the well-being of patients

• Published in: Journal of health organization and management Vol. 39; no. 5; pp. 628 - 640
• Main Authors: Prusiński, Tomasz, Burdziej, Stanisław, Główczewski, Michał
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Emerald Publishing Limited 25.06.2025; Emerald Group Publishing Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Asymmetry; Attitudes; Clinical outcomes; Cooperation; Decision making; Distributive justice; Female; Health behavior; Health care; Humans; Legitimacy; Life satisfaction; Male; Medical personnel; Middle Aged; Money; Outpatient clinics; Patient Satisfaction; Patients; Personal health; Physician-Patient Relations; Physicians; Procedural justice; Psychological well being; Social Justice; Surveys and Questionnaires; Well being; Healthcare system; Patient well-being; Distributive justice; Procedural justice; Physician’s authority
• ISSN: 1477-7266; 1758-7247; 1758-7247
• DOI: 10.1108/JHOM-03-2024-0091

PurposeThe aim of the study was to determine the predictive power of two relational factors, procedural justice and legitimacy, against the well-being of patients receiving medical care.Design/methodology/approachThe study sample consisted of 590 patients in treatment for somatic conditions in hospital outpatient clinics. The study was conducted in a correlational scheme. Subjects evaluated their relationship with their chosen doctor. In order to verify the hypotheses, SEM was carried out.FindingsThe relationship effect was noted. Procedural justice was a significant and positive predictor of psychological well-being, while distributive justice, i.e. time and money invested by the patient in their treatment, was not. The perceived legitimacy of the doctor was not a significant predictor of the psychological well-being of their patient. The relationship between the experience of procedural justice and psychological well-being was serially mediated by patients’ perceived physician legitimacy and perceived life satisfaction.Originality/valueRelational factors shape treatment outcomes operationalized by patients’ subjective sense of well-being. Fair patient handling is a predictor of positive treatment outcomes.