RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: Healthcare systems worldwide are actively exploring new approaches for cost containment and efficient use of resources. Currently, in a number of countries, the critical decision to introduce a single-payer over a multipayer healthcare system poses significant challenges. Consequently, we have systematically explored the current scientific evidence about the impact of single-payer and multipayer health systems on the areas of equity, efficiency and quality of health care, fund collection negotiation, contracting and budgeting health expenditure and social solidarity. STUDY DESIGN: This is a systematic review based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. METHODS: A search for relevant articles published in English was performed in March 2015 through the following databases: Excerpta Medica Databases, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online through PubMed and Ovid, Health Technology Assessment Database, Cochrane database and WHO publications. We also searched for further articles cited by eligible papers. RESULTS: A total of 49 studies were included in the analysis; 34 studied clinical outcomes of patients enrolled in different health insurances, while 15 provided a qualitative assessment in this field. CONCLUSION: The single-payer system performs better in terms of healthcare equity, risk pooling and negotiation, whereas multipayer systems yield additional options to patients and are harder to be exploited by the government. A multipayer system also involves a higher administrative cost. The findings pertaining to the impact on efficiency and quality are rather tentative because of methodological limitations of available studies.
Asunto(s)
Atención a la Salud/economía , Seguro de Salud/estadística & datos numéricos , Sistema de Pago Simple , Equidad en Salud , Humanos , Cobertura Universal del Seguro de SaludRESUMEN
WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Polypharmacy has a significant impact on patients' health with overall expenditure on over-the-counter (OTC) medicines representing a substantial burden in terms of cost of treatment. The aim of this study, which was conducted within the framework of a European Project funded by the European Union under the Seventh Framework Programme and was entitled OTC-SOCIOMED, was to report on possible determinants of patient behaviour regarding the consumption of medicines, and particularly OTCs, in the context of primary care. METHODS: A multicentre, cross-sectional study was designed and implemented in well-defined primary healthcare settings in Cyprus, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Malta and Turkey. Patients completed a questionnaire constructed on the basis of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), which was administered via face-to-face interviews. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The percentage of patients who had consumed prescribed medicines over a 6-month period was consistently high, ranging from 79% in the Czech Republic and 82% in Turkey to 97% in Malta and 100% in Cyprus. Reported non-prescribed medicine consumption ranged from 33% in Turkey to 92% in the Czech Republic and 97% in Cyprus. TPB behavioural antecedents explained 43% of the variability of patients' intention to consume medicines in Malta and 24% in Greece, but only 3% in Turkey. Subjective norm was a significant predictor of the intention to consume medicines in all three countries (Greece, Malta and Turkey), whereas attitude towards consumption was a significant predictor of the expectation to consume medicines, if needed. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: This study shows that parameters such as patients' beliefs and influence from family and friends could be determining factors in explaining the high rates of medicine consumption. Factors that affect patients' behavioural intention towards medicine consumption may assist in the formulation of evidence-based policy proposals and inform initiatives and interventions aimed at increasing the appropriate use of medicines.
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Medicina/estadística & datos numéricos , Medicamentos sin Prescripción/uso terapéutico , Medicamentos bajo Prescripción/uso terapéutico , Atención Primaria de Salud/estadística & datos numéricos , Adulto , Estudios Transversales , Europa (Continente) , Femenino , Humanos , Intención , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Pautas de la Práctica en Medicina/estadística & datos numéricos , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Prescribing represents an important medical action especially in primary care. However, irrational prescribing is common and has an impact on clinical and economic outcomes. Therefore, there is a growing need to rationalize prescribing. Knowledge of influential factors is crucial for achieving this. The aim of the present study was to identify the behavioural, normative and control beliefs of GPs regarding prescribing in Greece. METHODS: Focus group sessions were conducted in three geographically defined areas in Greece. GPs working in the private and public sector in primary care settings were invited to participate. Transcripts from focus groups were content analysed using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) as the theoretical framework. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: GPs acknowledged prescribing as the most important method for treating diseases in primary health care, with significant impact on patient's health and quality of life. The expectations of patients and their families were extremely influential during prescribing. Pharmaceutical sales representatives, other GPs and specialists, as well as public health authorities influenced prescribing. GPs admitted that factors such as the income of the patient, the limited time available and special situations such as prescribing through a third person or prescribing following patients' prescription requests for medicines that they have previously purchased over the counter through pharmacies may facilitate or hinder their prescribing decision. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: This elicitation study shed light into GPs' beliefs regarding prescribing. Factors that are not common in the usual European setting were revealed, such as the influence of the patients' family and special situations during prescribing. Thus, various issues were highlighted that should inform the development of items for inclusion in a forthcoming TPB-based questionnaire. The results of this study revealed also certain issues that can affect the design of policies aiming at the rationalization of prescribing.