Definition and understanding of "efficiency" in healthcare provision research: a scoping review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

With rising healthcare costs over the last decades, the concept of efficiency has gained popularity in healthcare provision research. As efficiency can be understood and measured in many different ways, it is often unclear what is meant by "efficient health systems" or "efficient healthcare providers".

Objectives

This study aims to analyze and categorize the different definitions and understandings of "efficiency" used in healthcare provision research over time.

Methods

We searched five databases (Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Business Source Premier, and EconLit) to conduct a scoping review. Sources were screened independently by two researchers, using the online software Rayyan. Results are reported using PRISMA-ScR.

Results

Of 1,441 individual sources

SUBMITTER: Lotscher-Stamm M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11571063 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature