An analysis of the relationship between client and health professional perceptions of health status on the quality of the health service system and health status in Vietnam

Abstract

This research aims to examine the relationships between internal and external determinants of the Vietnamese hospital and healthcare system and (a) the health service system and (b) the perceived health status of healthcare providers and clients from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Participants included 42 healthcare providers and 240 patients from Hue Central Hospital, Hue City Hospital, and Danang Hospital. Data were collected over a 4-week period in June 2012. The results revealed greatest predictors for clients’ perceptions about the health service system and health status in Vietnam were concerns about society and cultural values, medical information and technology, and the strengths and weaknesses of the hospital system were only society and cultural values, and the strengths and weaknesses of the hospital system were co-effective factors that predicted health status. Further, regarding the healthcare providers’ perception of health status, the only determinant, living, and working environment, was an effective factor in predicting the health status. These findings may be used as the basis for the analysis and application of health policy planning and appropriate strategies within Vietnam for promoting health and improving the performance of health service systems to meet the healthcare needs of its people. The findings suggest that Vietnamese do have concerns on the impact of trade and investment and medical information and technology on the quality of the health service system. Moreover, these findings will be further beneficial for knowledge development and application to regional study for the countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion.