An application of the behavioral model to the utilization of health care services in Turkey: A focus on equity

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the equity phenomenon, which can be defined as an equal treatment for equal need irrespective of socioeconomic status, in the utilization of health care services in Turkey (for outpatient and in-patient treatment services, separately) in the context of the behavioral model. We have used the "Health Surveys" obtained from the Turkish Statistical Institute for 2010, 2012 and 2014. The equity phenomenon and the determinants of the health care utilization are investigated by using the probit model. The findings indicate that the need variable has the largest marginal effect in magnitude for all types of health care. This implies that the health system structure in Turkey is based on need and, therefore, equity exists in the utilization of health care services. We have also found that health insurance has the second largest marginal effect after the need variable. This means that policy makers should focus on enabling factors, especially the coverage of health insurance and the level of income to increase health care utilization of the disadvantaged segments of the population.

Sağlik Hi̇zmetleri̇ Talebi̇ni̇n Nested Multi̇nomi̇nal Logi̇t Model İle Anali̇zi̇: Kayseri̇ İli̇nde Bi̇r Uygulama

“…The tables show the estimated coefficients of the nested logit model. Although the coefficients help in analyzing how the probability of choosing any provider of healthcare service changes compared with the reference category, the marginal effects help in indicating the most important factor determining this probability of choice (Başar et al 2018). In this study, the magnitude of the coefficients cannot be calculated.…”

The Case of MRI Repetitions with Direct and Indirect Cost Implications: Evidence from Hacettepe University Hospitals

“…Turkish Health System can be identified as pro-patient. More than 95% of individuals have health insurance and equitable access to health care services (Başar et al, 2018). Patients do not pay any extra fees for MRI examinations at state hospitals or at state university hospitals.…”

Income and health insurance effects on modern health-seeking behaviours in rural Ghana: nature and extent of bias involved

“…Since ABM was developed, it has been widely used to explain healthcare services utilisation in advanced and developing countries (Han-Kim and Lee, 2016;Li et al, 2016;Gotsadze et al, 2017;Bas ¸ar et al, 2021). For instance, Bas ¸ar et al (2021) applied the model to analyse the usage of outpatient and inpatient treatment services in Turkey.…”

“…This study considered four enabling factors in the vector of enabling factors: literacy, income, health insurance and savings (Archibong et al, 2020;Bas ¸ar et al, 2021). Household consumption spending is used as a proxy for income.…”