Identification of the most appropriate variables for measuring the efficiency of Iranian public hospitals: Using Delphi technique
نویسندگان
1 Health Management and Economics Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Health Services Management, School of Management and Medical Information, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3 Health Management and Economics Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4 Department of Health Services Management, School of Management and Medical Information, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
5 Department of Health Economics, School of Management and Medical Information, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
6 Department of Health Services Management, School of Management and Medical Information, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
7 Health Management and Economics Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
8 Health Management and Economics Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
9 Health Management and Economics Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
doi
چکیده
CONTEXT: Selecting variables is a fundamental step in evaluating comparative efficiency becausethe results of measuring efficiency depend on the used variables.AIMS: The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive set of input and output variables formeasuring efficiency with an emphasis on application in general hospitals in Iran.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study comprised a literature review followed by a Delphi surveyprocess. After extracting the variables from the literature review in order to reach consensus on themand identify the native variables, the researchers used the Delphi technique in three rounds. ThirtyIranian hospital managers, in Alborz, Saveh, Qazvin, Qom, and Hamadan universities, participatedin this study. For analysis, the interquartile range (IQR) and median were used. IQR was used toassess the agreement of Delphi panel members.RESULTS: After literature review, nine indicators were identified as input variables and 11 indicatorswere identified as output variables. After the proposed changes by Delphi members, 24 input variablesand 24 output variables were identified to measure hospital efficacy. Finally, ten variables wereselected as inputs and ten variables were selected as outputs to measure the performance of publichospitals in Iran by using the consensus of the members in the Delphi panel.CONCLUSIONS: This study proposes a framework for selecting the most appropriate variables formeasuring the hospital efficiency with an emphasis on nonparametric methods. Choosing variablesto measure hospital efficiency requires infrastructure such as an intelligent information system.
