Research on the quantitative evaluation of regional healthcare systems in various countries and its applications in Japan

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25860380
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Medical sociology
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: TETSUYA OTSUBO 京都大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 助教 (80551796)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 医療経済学 / 医療政策 / 医療計画 / レセプトデータ / 脳梗塞 / 評価指標 / 地域格差 / 小地域分析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, I quantitatively examined the regional healthcare systems in various countries through in-depth literature review. Based on this examination, I subsequently conducted a conceptual organization of performance indicators for evaluating regional healthcare systems in Japan. With a focus on acute stroke, I then developed a method for calculating these indicators that takes into account the limitations of available data, and applied this method in a cross-sectional analysis in Japan. The results revealed regional disparities in healthcare resource distribution, treatment processes, and outcomes in the treatment of acute stroke in Japan’s regional healthcare system. Furthermore, the study indicated that improvements in healthcare quality may be achieved by ensuring an adequate supply of healthcare resources in regions with a relatively low performance in outcomes. This research further develops the systematic evaluation methodology for assessing regional healthcare systems.

Free Research Field

医歯薬学