Examination of differences in health indicators between efficient and inefficient countries.

Gozde Yesilaydin

doi:10.12669/pjms.35.1.255

Abstract

Objective:This study determined whether there is a statistically significant difference between efficient and inefficient Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries in terms of health indicators using fuzzy data envelopment analysis (FDEA).Methods:In the study, FDEA was performed with three input variables directly affecting health, four environmental factors considered to indirectly affect health, and two output variables. Literature research was used to determine appropriate variables. In FDEA, three different α-cut levels were used. The hypotheses regarding whether there was a statistically significant difference between efficient and inefficient countries in input and output variables were tested for all α-cut levels of upper bound efficiency values.Results:In terms of health indicators, 17 countries were efficient at α-cut 0 and 0.5. At α-cut 1, 18 countries were efficient. There was only a statistically significant difference between the efficient and inefficient countries in “the number of physicians.”Conclusion:This study shows the number of physicians was the most important determinant affecting the efficiency of a country’s healthcare system. Inefficient countries had a greater mean for number of physicians. Thus, inefficient countries consume more resources than efficient ones.

Highlights

Countries are under obligation to use healthcare resources effectively without compromising on quality.[1]
There are many factors, health indicators, and indicator definitions developed by national and international organizations, reference groups, and academicians that affect the efficiency of health
In recent years, health indicators have been elaborated and subdimensions have been defined for each indicator with the “Global Reference List of 100 Core Health Indicators” developed by World Health Organization (WHO).[6]

Summary

Introduction

Countries are under obligation to use healthcare resources effectively without compromising on quality.[1]. There are many factors, health indicators, and indicator definitions developed by national and international organizations, reference groups, and academicians that affect the efficiency of health. Systems.[2] For example, according to Schulz & Johnson,[5] variables affecting psycho-socio-somatic health include environment (physical–natural and man-made, sociocultural-political, education, and employment), heredity, behavior (personal habits and nutrition), and healthcare services (community health, promotion, prevention, cure, and rehabilitation). Economic and social factors play a role in determining the health efficiency of countries.[1] in recent years, health indicators have been elaborated and subdimensions have been defined for each indicator with the “Global Reference List of 100 Core Health Indicators” developed by World Health Organization (WHO).[6] In addition, health-related issues and goals have been included in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.[7]

Methods

Results

Conclusion