Abstract:
The purpose of this research was to develop and validate a causal model of factors affecting the loyalty of Thai traditional medicine services in the eastern region of Thailand. The model comprised six latent variables: customer expectations, perceived quality, perceived value, customer satisfaction, customer complaint and customer loyalty. The sample included 450 randomly-selected participants from three hospitals specialising in Thai traditional medicine services, all over the age of 20; each participant responded to a locally-developed questionnaire. Model fit was assessed using LISREL 8.80 software. Results indicated that the causal model of factors affecting the loyalty of Thai traditional medicine services in the eastern region of Thailand was consistent with empirical data; Chi-square test of goodness of fit ( 2 ) = 58.03, df = 43, p = .063, GFI = .98, AGFI = .95, CFI = 1.00, NFI = .99, NNFI = 1.00, SRMR = .045, and RMSEA = .028. The variables in the model accounted for 53% of the variance in customer loyalty. In conclusion, service loyalty was the main factor influencing customer satisfaction followed by perceived value, customer complaint, customer expectations and perceived quality, respectively.