ABSTRACT
Objective We used standardized patients to evaluate the accuracy and explore the influencing factors of the diagnosis of unstable angina pectoris and type 2 diabetes by primary healthcare providers in Sichuan rural areas,aiming to provide a scientific basis for improving the diagnosis accuracy of primary healthcare providers for the two chronic diseases. Methods A multi-stage stratified random cluster sampling method was adopted to select 100 villages from 50 townships in 5 districts/counties in Zigong city,Sichuan province. General and internal medicine practioners who were on duty on the survey day were enrolled in the survey.Two rounds of data collection were conducted.In the first round,the basic information of providers from township health centers and village clinics was collected.One month after the the first survey,standardized patients were used to collect the information related to the diagnosis of unstable angina pectoris and type 2 diabetes by rural primary providers.Logistic regression was carried out to analyze the factors influencing the diagnosis accuracy. Results A total of 172 rural primary healthcare providers were enrolled in the survey,who completed 186 standardized patient visits and showed the correct diagnosis rate of 48.39%.Specifically,the correct diagnosis rates of unstable angina pectoris and type 2 diabetes were 18.68%(17/91) and 76.84%(73/95),respectively.The providers with medical practitioner qualifications were more likely to make correct diagnosis(OR=4.857,95%CI=1.076-21.933, P=0.040).The providers who involved more necessary consultation and examination items in the diagnosis process had higher probability of correct diagnosis(OR=1.627,95%CI=1.065-2.485, P=0.024).Additionally,the providers were more likely to make a correct diagnosis for type 2 diabetes than for unstable angina pectoris(OR=6.306,95%CI=3.611-11.013, P<0.001). Conclusions The overall diagnosis accuracy of unstable angina pectoris and type 2 diabetes was relatively low among primary healthcare providers in Sichuan rural areas.The training of diagnosis process can be taken as a key for improving providers' practice ability so as to increase the diagnosis accuracy of chronic diseases.
Subject(s)
Humans , Angina, Unstable , China , Chronic Disease , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/diagnosis , Health Personnel , Primary Health Care , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Background: Behaviour of healthcare providers when facing an illness is an important part of their struggle. The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge, the attitude and the practice of health care providers regarding to the Congenital Rubella Syndrome.Methods: Authors did a descriptive study on the knowledge, the attitude and the practice of healthcare providers about Congenital Rubella Syndrome with 161 healthcare providers working in 8 hospitals in Madagascar. A self-introduced survey was used to collect the data.Results: There were 87% of all healthcare providers included in the study, who said that rubella in the first trimester of pregnancy was the cause of this syndrome for child, 87% knew at least 2 of the 3 major signs of Congenital Rubella Syndrome and more than 80% had a good knowledge of the criteria for diagnosing cases (suspected, clinically confirmed, laboratory confirmed). The referral to a hospital or to a specialist was the most proposed for the management of the case of Congenital Rubella Syndrome. The prescription of an IgG avidity for rubella and advising abortion were the main propositions for mothers having a positive test at the first trimester of pregnancy.Conclusions: A fairly satisfactory level of knowledge of healthcare providers was noted.
ABSTRACT
To assess the proportion of caregivers of children and patients who received malaria prevention counseling from their healthcare provider at the time of outpatient malaria treatment. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving 353 randomly selected adult patients and caregivers of children attending the general and paediatric outpatient clinics of a Nigerian hospital. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on participants' sociodemographics and last malaria-episode characteristics. Chi square test and logistic regression analysis were used to determine factors associated with and predictors of receiving malaria-prevention counseling, respectively. Results: The mean age of the respondents was (33.6±9.6) years; they were predominantly females (257, 72.8%). Most had at least secondary-level education (304, 86.1%); the family size was mostly 1-6 persons in 202 (57.2%) respondents. They were treated mostly by doctors 256 (72.5%), but only 132 (37.4%) received malaria prevention counseling. Educational-level (χ
ABSTRACT
To assess healthcare workers' knowledge of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the early phase of the outbreak in Indonesia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 12 hospitals in Indonesia from March 6 to March 25, 2020. Healthcare workers' knowledge on COVID-19 was assessed, and demographic data, workplace characteristics, and medical professional characteristics as well as the current local situation of COVID-19 were collected. To characterize determinants associated with knowledge, a logistic regression analysis was employed. Results: Out of 288 healthcare workers who completed the interview-assisted questionnaire, 149 (51.7%) respondents had a good knowledge. Nurses and other types of healthcare workers had lower odds of having good knowledge compared to doctors: adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.38; 95% CI: 0.20-0.72 and aOR: 0.31; 95% CI: 0.13-0.73, respectively. Compared to healthcare workers who had medical practice experience less than 5 years, those who had worked for more than 10 years had lower knowledge (aOR: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.20-0.90). Healthcare workers who worked in the infection department had higher knowledge compared to those in the emergency room (aOR: 14.33; 95% CI: 3.67-55.88). Conclusions: The knowledge of COVID-19 among surveyed healthcare workers was relatively low. The COVID-19 response in Indonesia will require further education and enhancement of the capacity of healthcare workers in the emergency room where COVID-19 patients may be treated the earliest.
ABSTRACT
To assess the proportion of caregivers of children and patients who received malaria prevention counseling from their healthcare provider at the time of outpatient malaria treatment. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving 353 randomly selected adult patients and caregivers of children attending the general and paediatric outpatient clinics of a Nigerian hospital. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on participants' sociodemographics and last malaria-episode characteristics. Chi square test and logistic regression analysis were used to determine factors associated with and predictors of receiving malaria-prevention counseling, respectively. Results: The mean age of the respondents was (33.6±9.6) years; they were predominantly females (257, 72.8%). Most had at least secondary-level education (304, 86.1%); the family size was mostly 1-6 persons in 202 (57.2%) respondents. They were treated mostly by doctors 256 (72.5%), but only 132 (37.4%) received malaria prevention counseling. Educational-level (χ2 =5.42, P=0.02), family size (Fisher's exact, P=0.01), place of treatment (Fisher's exact, P=0.0002), pretreatment malaria test (χ2 =9.48, P=0.002), who prescribed treatment (Fisher's exact P=0.001), consultation time (χ2 =22.09, P<0.001), and previous demand for malaria prevention counseling (X2=36.59, P<0.001) were associated with receiving malaria prevention counseling. However, consultation time [Odd ratio (OR)=2.38, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.28, 4.40, P =0.006] and previous demand for malaria prevention counseling (OR =3.62, 95% CI: 2.15, 6.10, P<0.001) were independent predictors of receiving counseling. Conclusions: The proportion of respondents that received malaria prevention counseling was surprisingly low. This offers opportunity for policy review towards improving the quality of outpatient malaria care through alternative strategies for giving malaria prevention information, especially in busy clinics where consultation time is constrained.
ABSTRACT
To assess healthcare workers' knowledge of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the early phase of the outbreak in Indonesia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 12 hospitals in Indonesia from March 6 to March 25, 2020. Healthcare workers' knowledge on COVID-19 was assessed, and demographic data, workplace characteristics, and medical professional characteristics as well as the current local situation of COVID-19 were collected. To characterize determinants associated with knowledge, a logistic regression analysis was employed. Results: Out of 288 healthcare workers who completed the interview-assisted questionnaire, 149 (51.7%) respondents had a good knowledge. Nurses and other types of healthcare workers had lower odds of having good knowledge compared to doctors: adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.38; 95% CI: 0.20-0.72 and aOR: 0.31; 95% CI: 0.13-0.73, respectively. Compared to healthcare workers who had medical practice experience less than 5 years, those who had worked for more than 10 years had lower knowledge (aOR: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.20-0.90). Healthcare workers who worked in the infection department had higher knowledge compared to those in the emergency room (aOR: 14.33; 95% CI: 3.67-55.88). Conclusions: The knowledge of COVID-19 among surveyed healthcare workers was relatively low. The COVID-19 response in Indonesia will require further education and enhancement of the capacity of healthcare workers in the emergency room where COVID-19 patients may be treated the earliest.
ABSTRACT
Background: The role of health care providers in the implementation of responsiveness of health systems is unclear. Responsiveness of health systems is one of the goals set out by WHO in 2000. Effective leadership and governance of health systems incorporates all players involved in policy implementation. The objectives of the study were to establish how the health care provider’s awareness of patients’ rights charter influence health systems responsiveness and to establish how the health care provider practice of patients’ rights charter influence responsiveness of health systems in primary care settings.Methods: This was an exploratory cross section descriptive study design that used a psychometric semi- structured questionnaire to collect qualitative data that was analyzed quantitatively. Respondents were 62 purposively sampled health care providers from four, primary care health facilities. Key informant interviews from the four health facilities in-charges were carried out. Data was analyzed using SPSS vs 25 and themes.Results: Health care provider awareness of the content of patients’ rights charter (r=0.612*, p<0.001) and practice of patient’s right charter (r=0.610*, p<0.001) were statistically significant and influenced health systems responsiveness.Conclusions: Implementation of patients’ rights charter has an influence on responsiveness of health systems. Leadership and Governance of health systems requires a structured approach to implementation of policies that positively influence responsiveness of health systems. Supervision of health care providers for best practice can provide a basis for replication in other primary care facilities and lead to achieving responsiveness of health systems.
ABSTRACT
In recent times, numerous efforts have been made in the field of medicine to improve the methodology of measuring and reporting the quality of care delivered to patients. Most of these efforts have been executed in the western population, because of an efficient system of Incident Reporting. Quality Measurement in healthcare typically means quantifying processes of care that have a direct relationship to positive health outcomes. Quality in anaesthesia is usually measured by perioperative mortality, morbidity and Incidents. Quality measurement is not only important for the clientele but also for the employer, to make choices and healthcare provider to introspect his performance. It is an effective method of giving feedback to anaesthesiologists, doctors and paramedical staff to address quality issues and bring about improvement. Without Quality Measurement, improvement in quality, if at all, would be expected to be very slow and clientele would be blindfolded in taking important decisions pertaining to health care. The concepts of quality assurance and quality control are rapidly gaining popularity in surgical sciences as the society is heading towards social, technical and clinical advancements globally. In times to come, quality of anaesthesia services will be closely monitored by quality indicators and will become a benchmark for assessment of the healthcare provider and the hospital. At present, the need of the hour is to devise ways and means to measure the quality of care being provided by the healthcare provider and adopt these evolutionary practices aimed at improving anaesthesia delivery services in a medical setup.
ABSTRACT
Abstract Objective To assess the impact of the distance education course "Sickle Cell Disease: Primary Health Care Line" on knowledge acquisition of professional healthcare providers. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with a quantitative approach at the Educational and Support Center for Hemoglobinopathies (Cehmob-MG), state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, in 2016. One hundred and fifty-three out of 300 professional healthcare providers were invited to participate in the proposed distance course. Of the participating professional healthcare providers, 72 (47%) successfully concluded the course (Group A), whereas 81 (53%) did not complete their course assignments and did not meet the minimum requirements for regular attendance (Group B). Knowledge acquisition was assessed with the Knowledge of Sickle Cell Disease Instrument, DFConhecimento, applied using the web tool eSurv. Univariate analysis by Poisson regression was employed to assess the influence of sociodemographic variables on the DFConhecimento score and to select variables to compose the initial multivariate regression model (p-value < 0.20). The analysis was performed in the statistical programming environment R. Results The average score was 9.76 for Group A and 6.54 for Group B. The two groups were considered statistically different (p-value < 0.05) for all items with the proportion of correct items being greater in Group A. Professional healthcare providers who concluded the course had a significantly higher DFConhecimento score (45%) when compared to those who did not successfully conclude the course. Conclusion Participation in a distance education course on sickle cell disease had a positive impact on the acquisition of knowledge about the disease by professional healthcare providers.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Health Education , Health Personnel , Knowledge , Anemia, Sickle CellABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study examined the mediating effects of basic psychological needs between patient autonomy support from healthcare providers, and self-management among cancer survivors.METHODS: This study collected data from 148 cancer patients who had visited D hospitals in B city, Korea. A structured questionnaire was distributed to determine patient characteristics, healthcare provider autonomy support, basic psychological needs, and self-management. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and regression analysis that implemented Baron and Kenny's method for mediation were used for analyses.RESULTS: Self-management was significantly correlated with the level of healthcare provider autonomy support (r = 0.38, p < 0.001), autonomy (r = 0.40, p < 0.001), competence (r = 0.25, p = 0.002), and relatedness (r = 0.32, p < 0.001). Furthermore, autonomy (β = 0.30, p < 0.001) and relatedness (β = 0.22, p = 0.008) had partial mediating effects on the relationship between healthcare provider autonomy support and self-management (Z = 3.13, p = 0.002 and Z = 2.29, p = 0.022, respectively).CONCLUSION: Autonomy and relatedness mediated the impact of healthcare provider autonomy support for self-management among cancer survivors. This suggests that strategies for enhancing autonomy and relatedness should be considered when developing self-management interventions for cancer survivor patients.
Subject(s)
Humans , Delivery of Health Care , Health Personnel , Korea , Mental Competency , Methods , Negotiating , Self Care , SurvivorsABSTRACT
Los cambios del nuevo Código Civil y Comercial de la Argentina impulsa el desarrollo de la autonomía en niños y adolescentes. En este trabajo, estructuramos un modelo que describe la autonomía en la atención de la salud infantil. Hicimos un análisis bibliográfico enfocado en I) concepto de autonomía relacionado con el valor absoluto del individuo autónomo y II) el proceso de desarrollo de toma idónea de decisiones en función de la edad. Resumimos nuestros hallazgos mediante el desarrollo de un modelo conceptual en el niño, el pediatra y los padres. La relación pediatra-niño se fundamenta en formas de orientación y cooperación con diversos niveles de actividad y pasividad. La autoridad de los padres influye sobre el grado de autonomía en función del nivel de respeto e igualdad moral del niño. Al aplicar el modelo para facilitar el diálogo entre pediatras, niños, padres y otros, se considerarán las circunstancias contextuales, existenciales, conceptuales y socio-éticas.
The changes initiated by the new National Civil and Commercial Code in Argentina underline the pediatric task to empower children's and adolescents' developing autonomy. In this paper, we have framed a model describing autonomy in child healthcare. We carried out a literature review focusing on i) the concept of autonomy referring to the absolute value of the autonomous individual, and ii) the age-driven process of competent decisionmaking development. We summarized our findings developing a conceptual model that includes the child, the pediatrician and the parents. The pediatrician-child relationship is based on different forms of guidance and cooperation, resulting in varying levels of activity and passivity. Parental authority influences the extent of autonomy, based on the level of respect of the child's moral equality. Contextual, existential, conceptual, and social-ethical conditions shall be considered when applying the model to facilitate dialogue between pediatricians, children, parents and other actors.
Subject(s)
Humans , Child , Adolescent , Pediatrics , Child Health , Adolescent , Personal AutonomyABSTRACT
Objective:The main objective of this study is to analyze the development trend of China's private healthcare providers since the issue of Document No. 58 by the General Office of the State Council in the year 2010. It intends to evaluate the effectiveness of the policy on encouragement and guidance to private healthcare. Methods:(1) Using the statistical data collected from national and provincial healthcare yearbook, we made a comparative a-nalysis on seven indicators regarding the development of private healthcare providers, including the number of health-care providers, the number of beds, the number of healthcare professionals, annual outpatient diagnose-and-treat per-son-times, annual inpatient hospitalization person-times, bed utilization rate and average length of stay for two periods of time (i. e. 2006—2010 and 2011—2015). (2) A field study was conducted to six selected provinces. In these provinces, essential information of the related policy was collected, held stakeholder interviews and focus group dis-cussions among hospital management team and medical workers and visits to several typical private providers were made to understand the policy effectiveness and existing problems. The study also tried to find the key factors for a successful private healthcare provider in China. Results:(1) The results show that since the issue of Document No. 58 in the year 2010 , the number of China's private healthcare providers has greatly increased while the scale and service capabilities of private providers still need to be improved. (2) As per the results again, a great difference ex-ists between provinces in terms of private healthcare provider development during 2010 to 2015 . Conclusion:A posi-tive impact of government regulation on the development of private healthcare providers was noticed. However, China's private healthcare providers are still facing many invisible obstacles and challenges. The government needs to put more focus on building a cross-department coordination and supporting regulation system to advance the sustain-able development of private healthcare providers. Moreover, the government needs to cautiously promote the Public-Private-Partnership ( PPP) to improve the effective allocation of resources in the healthcare market and provide essen-tial support to private healthcare providers in solving the problems they meet during their development process.
ABSTRACT
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most important occupational risks for healthcare workers (HCWs) in South Korea. Many policies regarding the control and prevention of TB in healthcare settings recommend that HCWs are tested for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in addition to active TB. Moreover, the Korean Tuberculosis Prevention Act also recommends that HCWs receive regular testing for LTBI. However, there are no specific or detailed guidelines for dealing with LTBI in HCWs. Herein, we discuss the diagnosis and treatment of LTBI in HCWs and focus particularly on the baseline screening of hired HCWs, routine follow-up, and contact investigation.
Subject(s)
Humans , Delivery of Health Care , Diagnosis , Follow-Up Studies , Health Personnel , Interferon-gamma Release Tests , Korea , Latent Tuberculosis , Mass Screening , Tuberculin Test , TuberculosisABSTRACT
Resumen El trabajador de la salud (médicos, enfermeras, paramédicos, laboratoristas clínicos, etc.), por su actividad diaria está en riesgo de adquirir accidentalmente una enfermedad infecciosa. El contacto con pacientes, fluidos biológicos y el cultivo o aislamiento de microorganismos infecciosos durante el trabajo de laboratorio son factores que aumentan ese riesgo, y para disminuirlo se requiere de la aplicación de medidas preventivas o precauciones estándar de bioseguridad para cada una de sus actividades, por lo tanto, debe contar con el entrenamiento necesario. El uso de guantes, cubrebocas, mascarillas, bata, así como la disposición adecuada de los residuos peligrosos biológico-infecciosos (RPBI) resultan primordiales en el trabajo diario. Aunado esto, el lavado de manos, el cambio frecuente de la bata u otra vestimenta hospitalaria son de gran importancia para evitar las infecciones nosocomiales. Es importante considerar, que la carga de trabajo y el estrés ocupacional son factores adicionales que aumentan las probabilidades de incurrir en errores o accidentes laborales que provoquen infecciones en el personal de salud. Nuestro objetivo es presentar los factores de riesgo a los que se expone el trabajador de la salud durante sus actividades diarias y contribuir a la difusión y divulgación de la correcta aplicación de las precauciones universales de bioseguridad para disminuir el riesgo de adquirir una enfermedad infecciosa.
Abstract Healthcare providers (doctors, nurses, paramedics, laboratory technicians, surgeons, etc.) are at risk of accidentally acquiring an infectious disease as a consequence of their everyday activities. Preventive measures or standard biosafety precautions for each one of the activities to perform are required; therefore, health providers must know and have the appropriate training to prevent these infections. For instance, the use of gloves, surgical masks, masks, laboratory coat, as well as the correct disposal of trained to Contact with patients, biological fluids and the culture or isolation of infectious microorganisms during laboratory work are factors increasing that risk. To reduce the risk of acquiring an infectious disease, it requires the application of preventive measures or appropriate biosecurity standard precautions for each of the activities to be performed, so the health worker must know and have the necessary training to prevent these infections in this sense the use of gloves, masks, gown, and the correct management of the Biological-infectious Hazardous Waste (BIHW) are of primary importance in daily work. In addition, hand-washing, frequent change of the coat or any other hospital clothes is very important to prevent hospital-acquired infections. Finally, it is important to consider that the workload and occupational stress are additional factors that increase the chances of work mistakes or accidents causing healthcare personnel acquire infections. The aim of this paper is to present a profile of risk factors to which the health worker is exposed during his/her daily activities and contribute to the dissemination and disclosure of the correct application of the universal biosafety precautions in order to decrease the risk of acquiring an infectious disease.
ABSTRACT
There is high expectation from the population on part of the healthcare providers. These include; skilful and timely medication administration; and knowledge, honesty, listening skills, availability and professional attitude. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the expectation of population with regards to the healthcare providers in Turkey. A cross- sectional study was conducted in Turkey, including both rural and urban population, carried out from October 2011 till January 2012. A total of 540 household heads were selected using multistage random sampling technique. Data was collected using modified self-administered 16-items QUOTE (Quality of Care Through the Patients’ Eyes) questionnaire. The questionnaire measures communication/ accessibility, organizational skills and professional skills. The response rate was (77.1%) and data was analyzed by using SPSS version 16.0. All the aspects measured using QUOTE questionnaire were found to be important by the majority of respondents, but with varying degrees of priority. The quality aspects related to the professional skills of physicians was ranked first followed by communication/ accessibility and last but not the least is the organizational skills of health care providers. This study explored the Turkish people priorities and expectations regarding healthcare providers. The public priorities and expectation were different across population. This may reflect the need to understand people’s expectations before providing the services to avoid complaints that may occur after the services have been rendered.
ABSTRACT
We conducted a systematic review to summarize providers' attitudes toward pay-for-performance (P4P), focusing on their general attitudes, the effects of P4P, their favorable design and implementation methods, and concerns. An electronic search was performed in PubMed and Scopus using selected keywords including P4P. Two reviewers screened target articles using titles and abstract review and then read the full version of the screened articles for the final selections. In addition, one reference of screened articles and one unpublished report were also included. Therefore, 14 articles were included in this study. Healthcare providers' attitudes on P4P were summarized in two ways. First, we gathered their general attitudes and opinions regarding the effects of P4P. Second, we rearranged their opinions regarding desirable P4P design and implementation methods, as well as their concerns. This study showed the possibility that some healthcare providers still have a low level of awareness about P4P and might prefer voluntary participation in P4P. In addition, they felt that adequate quality indicators and additional support for implementation of P4P would be needed. Most healthcare providers also had serious concerns that P4P would induce unintended consequences. In order to conduct successful implementation of P4P, purchaser should make more efforts such as increasing providers' level of awareness about P4P, providing technical and educational support, reducing their burden, developing a cooperative relationship with providers, developing more accurate quality measures, and minimizing the unintended consequences.
Subject(s)
Humans , Attitude of Health Personnel , Program Development , Quality Improvement/economics , Quality of Health Care/economics , Reimbursement, Incentive/organization & administration , Republic of KoreaABSTRACT
<b>Objective: </b>A perception survey of healthcare providers and pharmaceutical industries about the current package insert (PI) was conducted to evaluate whether its layout and issues such as the contents concerning drug-drug interactions are found appropriate.<br><b>Methods: </b>A questionnaire was sent via the Internet to physicians of various subspecialties, or via the postal service to pharmacy-employed pharmacists and pharmaceutical industries. It consisted of questions regarding the PI layout, the information contents on drug-drug interactions and other matters about PI revision.<br><b>Results: </b>The survey showed that the PI is a major source of drug information for physicians (82.4%) and pharmacists (98.7%). The layout (order of appearance of headings and information about drug interactions in a tabular format) of the current PI is widely accepted by physicians, pharmacists, and pharmaceutical industries. There was, however, some degree of disagreement within these three groups in the perceptions about the presentation/contents of the several drug interactions, as well as about the timing for its updating. Around 24% of physicians and 35% of pharmacists view that the content of drug interactions is insufficient, and that information about adverse drug reactions and drug interactions is not enough updated in the PIs. On the other hand, near 86% of pharmaceutical industries were prone to wait for accumulation of enough data until revising the information in PIs.<br><b>Conclusions: </b>Differences of perception were found between healthcare providers (<i>i.e</i>., PI users) and industries. Our survey revealed that the basic layout of the current PI should be preserved, but there are issues such as the contents and updating of information regarding drug interactions and adverse drug interactions that may require modifications according to the healthcare providers’ point of view.
ABSTRACT
This study analyzes determinants of patients' choice of healthcare providers in outpatient services and identifies their effects. Data were collected from two waves of the Korean Health Panel. The unit of analysis was an outpatient visit (n=189,739). Various types of medical institutions were grouped into general hospitals (including tertiary hospitals), hospitals, and clinics. A multinomial logit model was used to examine the determinants of medical institution selection. Clinics were the most frequent (82.2%) medical institution selected, followed by general hospitals (10.9%) and hospitals (6.9%). Males and beneficiaries of Medical Aid were more likely to choose the upper-level institutions. The upper-level institution selection was also positively associated with the level of education, household income, and severe diseases, while negatively associated with the level of health status. The medical institution selection was significantly different by region. Not only enabling factors for healthcare utilization, such as family and community resources, but also the users' characteristics were strong determinants of the type of medical institution selected. We, therefore, recommend that patients' characteristics and needs, in addition to the sharing of roles and functions among medical institutions, should be considered in making healthcare policies for efficient medical utilization and an effective medical delivery system.