Is the health workforce distribution in Beijing, China perfectly equitable?

Background: The quantity and distribution of the health workforce is one of the most important aspects of a health care system. Inequality in the distribution of the health workforce is common in China and in many developing countries. This paper aimed to evaluate and discuss inequality in the distribution of the health workforce in Beijing, China, and explain the sources of the inequality. Methods: The study described and measured inequality in the distribution of the health workforce in Beijing using data from the Beijing Regional Statistical Yearbook 2017. The 16 districts of Beijing are divided into four divisions and the paper used methods from the economics literature, including the Lorenz curve, Gini coefficient and Theil L index, to measure inequality in the distribution of the health workforce at sub-provincial level in Beijing for three categories of health workers: doctors, nurses and all health workers. Results: There are inequalities in the densities of health workers at the district and division levels. In terms of the densities of all health workers, doctors and nurses, the Capital Core Functional Division is 3.95 times, 3.82 times and 4.13 times, respectively, higher than the Urban Development New Division. All the Gini coefficients are between than 0.2 to 0.3, which means that the health worker distribution is rather equitable. The Theil L index shows that the inequalities mainly come from the differences between the four divisions, and that nurses are more unequally distributed between divisions (0.28 for Gini coefficient and 0.380 for the Theil L index). Conclusions and recommendations: According to the study findings, the inequalities in health workforce distribution in Beijing could be addressed by increasing investment in the numbers and quality of nurses, as well as by establishing additional policies to attract more health workers to work in remote areas. Chinese governments need to think more carefully about the current distribution of health workers at the sub-provincial level

Sense of coherence in Chinese and German students

Background: Mental health and salutogenesis are important topics at universities in China and Germany where heightening stress levels in students can be observed. Aim: The aim of this article is to determine the profile of the salutogenic concept, sense of coherence (SOC), in Chinese and German students to provide new insights into SOC and mental health in Chinese and German students in higher education institutions (HEIs). Setting: The study was carried out at universities in China and Germany. Method: A non-experimental, cross-sectional, survey-based research design and convenience sampling was utilised to obtain the sample (n = 356). The sample was derived at a selected Chinese (n = 255) and a selected German university (n= 101). Data were gathered using the 7-point Likert SOC dimension scales based on the Life-Orientation Questionnaire (LOQ) research instrument. The internal consistency levels of the SOC sub-scales were of acceptable levels. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. Cronbach's alpha coefficients were calculated to determine the reliability of the LOQ research instrument. General linear modelling techniques. Results: The results showed the Chinese students scored significantly lower in all three SOC scales than the German students, with the largest practical significant difference in the sub-score of meaningfulness. In general, female Chinese and German students scored higher than their male counterparts. No significant differences could be found between German female and male, and Chinese female and male students. Conclusion: Conclusions and recommendations for future research and HEI practice are provided