Factors influencing choice of health system access level in China: A systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

In China, patients increasingly choose to access already severely overcrowded higher level hospitals, leaving lower level facilities with low utilization rates. This situation undermines the effectiveness and efficiency of the health system. The situation tends to worsen despite policy measures aimed at improvement. We systematically review the factors affecting patient choice to synthesize scientific understanding of health system access in China. The review provides an evidence base for measures to direct patient flow towards lower level facilities.

Methods

We screened the peer-reviewed literature published from April 2009 to January 2016 that investigates Chinese patients' choice of health care facilities at different levels and assessed 45 studies in total. We

SUBMITTER: Liu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6086423 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature