Waiting time and doctor shopping in a mixed medical economy.
Waiting time generally acts as a rationing mechanism in the public health care system. In theory, patients who have a higher valuation of time are more likely to seek alternative care (i.e. doctor shopping) if there is a parallel private sector than those who have weaker time preference. However, the existing settings of many health care systems do not allow patients to reveal their preference of such. The data presented in this study suggest a positive association between patients' expressed value of time and doctor shopping behaviour in Hong Kong. Patients who were assigned longer waiting times relative to their expected horizon were more likely to seek private alternative care.
Yeung
Raymond Y T
RY
Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Bulding, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulman, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Leung
Gabriel M
GM
McGhee
Sarah M
SM
Johnston
Janice M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005382:Financing, Personal; D006302:Health Services Research; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017059:Models, Econometric; D009819:Office Visits / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017149:Private Sector / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017150:Public Sector / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D026712:Value of Life / Q000191:economics*; D014850:Waiting Lists