Segmentation of Health-Care Consumers: Psychological Determinants of
Subjective Health and Other Person-related Variables
Abstract
In addition to the personalization of medical treatment, there is an
observable, growing trend toward tailoring support programs more closely
to individuals. Supportive programs are non-medical programs that – in
addition to medical treatment or intervention – intend to help improve
patients’ health status. The segmentation model developed by Bloem &
Stalpers (2012) may serve as a solid basis for such an approach. The
model is not designed for or based on a general population; it is
instead focused on individuals’ ‘health experience’ and is therefore a
‘cross-disease’ model. This model is based on the main psychological
determinants of subjective health: acceptance and perceived control. The
model identifies four segments of health-care consumers, based on high
or low values on these determinants. The focus of the present study is
to get insights into how the four segments differ in terms of
person-related variables, such as socio-demographic and socio-economic
variables. In the study, several relationships between segments and
person-related variables have been identified. Based on these outcomes,
unique profiles have been formed for each of the four segments.
Applications of the profile-enriched model in daily practice and
recommendations for further research are suggested.