Regional differences of outpatient physician supply as a theoretical economic and empirical generalized linear model

verfasst von

Stefan Scholz, Johann Matthias Graf von der Schulenburg, Wolfgang Greiner

Abstract

Background: Regional differences in physician supply can be found in many health care systems, regardless of their organizational and financial structure. A theoretical model is developed for the physicians' decision on office allocation, covering demand-side factors and a consumption time function. Methods: To test the propositions following the theoretical model, generalized linear models were estimated to explain differences in 412 German districts. Various factors found in the literature were included to control for physicians' regional preferences. Results: Evidence in favor of the first three propositions of the theoretical model could be found. Specialists show a stronger association to higher populated districts than GPs. Although indicators for regional preferences are significantly correlated with physician density, their coefficients are not as high as population density. Conclusions: If regional disparities should be addressed by political actions, the focus should be to counteract those parameters representing physicians' preferences in over- and undersupplied regions.

Organisationseinheit(en)

Institut für Versicherungsbetriebslehre

Externe Organisation(en)

Universität Bielefeld

Typ

Artikel

Journal

Human resources for health

Band

13

ISSN

1478-4491

Publikationsdatum

17.11.2015

Publikationsstatus

Veröffentlicht

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Public administration, Öffentliche Gesundheit, Umwelt- und Arbeitsmedizin

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung

SDG 3 – Gute Gesundheit und Wohlergehen

Elektronische Version(en)

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-015-0088-1 (Zugang: Offen)