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Alphanumeric vs. Numeric Token Systems and the Healthcare Experience: Field Evidence from Healthcare Delivery in India

Author

Listed:
  • Shelly Rathee

    (Department of Marketing, Villanova School of Business, Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania 19085)

  • Kritika Narula

    (Analysis Group, Boston, Massachusetts 02199)

  • Arul Mishra

    (Department of Marketing, David Eccles School of Business, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84322)

  • Himanshu Mishra

    (Department of Marketing, David Eccles School of Business, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84322)

Abstract

Long wait times for patients are an important health policy issue in many countries, especially developing countries in which there is generally poorer health infrastructure, appointments are not very common, and the opportunity cost of competing life priorities is high. In this research, we examine via field experiments in health clinics in India whether providing numeric versus alphanumeric wait tokens can affect pain perceptions of patients and whether the type of tokens can also affect their wait-time perception and visit satisfaction. Our research provides initial evidence that alphanumeric tokens, in most cases, lead to lower pain perception, lower wait-time perception, and higher satisfaction levels with the healthcare system compared with numeric tokens. However, this is not always true; we also demonstrate boundary conditions when numeric tokens perform better and when the differences between tokens are attenuated. We conducted field experiments in three separate clinics and vary the type of tokens (numeric versus alphanumeric) used to test multiple token operationalizations in varied healthcare contexts. We explain our findings using the cognitive strategy of wait-time perception and discuss why this strategy is helpful for a developing country.

Suggested Citation

  • Shelly Rathee & Kritika Narula & Arul Mishra & Himanshu Mishra, 2023. "Alphanumeric vs. Numeric Token Systems and the Healthcare Experience: Field Evidence from Healthcare Delivery in India," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 69(2), pages 1180-1221, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:69:y:2023:i:2:p:1180-1221
    DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.2022.4389
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    References listed on IDEAS

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