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The research aims to explore the roles of cultural beliefs, religious values, language and social status in shaping hospital preference in multicultural Malaysia. The research conducts qualitative interviews with purposive sampling methods, which is further analyzed with thematic analysis. When selecting a healthcare provider, middle- and high-income groups in Malaysia consider not only the efficacy of the treatment or the cost but also a deeper level of social and cultural identity and symbolic relevance according to a comparative analysis of public and private hospitals as well as a review of related literature. For this group, private hospitals are not only providers of medical services, but also a lifestyle choice, symbolizing dignity, status and even social class. The research findings provide reflections to public to consider whether the public healthcare system should only be “functional” or whether it should also be “human-centered and culturally responsive”?

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From “Trust” to “Burden”: Service Experience and Preference Game between Public and Private Hospitals in Malaysia’s Diverse Society

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年

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  • Poh Hwa Eng,
  • Bohan Yang,
  • Ran Long Liu,
  • Jia Ming Zhang

摘要

The research aims to explore the roles of cultural beliefs, religious values, language and social status in shaping hospital preference in multicultural Malaysia. The research conducts qualitative interviews with purposive sampling methods, which is further analyzed with thematic analysis. When selecting a healthcare provider, middle- and high-income groups in Malaysia consider not only the efficacy of the treatment or the cost but also a deeper level of social and cultural identity and symbolic relevance according to a comparative analysis of public and private hospitals as well as a review of related literature. For this group, private hospitals are not only providers of medical services, but also a lifestyle choice, symbolizing dignity, status and even social class. The research findings provide reflections to public to consider whether the public healthcare system should only be “functional” or whether it should also be “human-centered and culturally responsive”?