Efficiency in health services based on professionals consensus quality indicators

ABSTRACT

This study aims to determine the predictive factors of technical efficiency of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries according to Health Care Quality Indicators (HCQI) and health status measures. The technical efficiency of OECD countries was analyzed by using data envelopment analysis and different model specifications from 1 to 13. Data was obtained from HCQI project statistics and OECD reports for the years between 2008 and 2011. The technical efficiency of OECD countries according to acute care, primary care, cancer care, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes and health status measures was determined. The different model specification results indicate that the first model, which includes HCQI, such as primary care, acute care, cancer care, and cardiovascular diseases, as input variables and life expectancy and maternal mortality as output variables have the highest technical efficiency score (79%). The most influential variable that predicts the technical efficiency of OECD countries according to HCQI and health status measures is case fatality in adults within 30 days after admission for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study highlights the need to improve diagnostic and treatment technologies of acute care to reduce hospital mortality following AMI to develop quality of health care in developed countries.

KEYWORDS:

• Technical efficiency
• Allocative efficiency
• Health Care Quality Indicators project
• OECD countries

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Songul Cinaroglu

Songul Cinaroglu is a Doctor in Health Administration, Assistant Professor at Hacettepe University, Department of Health Care Management, former visiting researcher at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) and of the University of Alabama (Birmingham). Her main research interest is applied statistics in health economics, policy and outcomes research.