An Investigation of Factors Influencing District Hospitals’ Participation in Taiwan Healthcare Indicator Series (THIS)

• Main Authors: Su-Mei Ma, 馬夙玫
• Other Authors: Ing-Chung Huang
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2004
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/69148936293984074986

碩士 === 國立中山大學 === 人力資源管理研究所 === 92 === Due to rapid change of healthcare environment and the awakening consciousness of health service consumers, healthcare quality becomes a major concern of hospital administrators. In 1999, Taiwan Joint Commission on Hospital Accreditation cooperated with Maryland Hospital Association and then implemented Taiwan Quality Indicator Project (TQIP). On the other hand, within the years 1998~ 2000, Taiwan College of Healthcare Executives developed a localized healthcare indicator series (referred to as Taiwan Healthcare Indicator Series, THIS, afterwards) aiming at providing a better system for monitoring medical care quality for the long run. Nevertheless, relevant reports show that so far not many hospitals actively participate in the THIS. The main purpose of this study is to explore those factors which might influence a district hospital’s decision of whether participating in the THIS no not. Hospital administrators were the subjects of this study. Mailing survey was adopted to collect the data. In May, 2004, a total of 436 questionnaires were mailed out. 147 hospitals responded (i.e. a response rate of 33.72%). The key variables of interest may be classified into three groups-- hospital characteristics, perception of THIS, and professional technique related to THIS. Descriptive analyses showed that more than 60% district hospitals did not participate in the THIS; the reasons are listed in order as follows: lack of budget, lack of quality assurance specialists, indicator unable to meet hospital’s requirement, human resource shortage, annual fee too expensive. As for those hospitals participating in THIS, their considerations are showed in order as follows: better reimbersencement, meeting the requirement of assessment, complying with regulation of the authority, and meeting the requirement of hospital policy and patient needs. Besides, a logistic regression analysis indicated that the most important factor influencing hospitals’ participation in THIS is “whether any medical quality related activity is implemented within the hospital.” With a response rate of 33.72% and with responding hospitals relatively restricted to Kaohsiung-Pingtung area, a careful generalization of results is needed. Further, it is suggested that a qualitative study design along with a higher response rate of quantitative analysis might help enhance the generalization for future study.