Empirical studies on informal patient payments for health care services: A systematic and critical review of research methods and instruments
Loading...
Date
2010
Authors
Stepurko, Tetiana
Pavlova, Milena
Gryga, Irena
Groot, Wim
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Description
Background: Empirical evidence demonstrates that informal patient payments are an important feature of many
health care systems. However, the study of these payments is a challenging task because of their potentially illegal
and sensitive nature. The aim of this paper is to provide a systematic review and analysis of key methodological
difficulties in measuring informal patient payments.
Methods: The systematic review was based on the following eligibility criteria: English language publications that
reported on empirical studies measuring informal patient payments. There were no limitations with regard to the
year of publication. The content of the publications was analysed qualitatively and the results were organised in
the form of tables. Data sources were Econlit, Econpapers, Medline, PubMed, ScienceDirect, SocINDEX.
Results: Informal payments for health care services are most often investigated in studies involving patients or the
general public, but providers and officials are also sample units in some studies. The majority of the studies apply a
single mode of data collection that involves either face-to-face interviews or group discussions.
One of the main methodological difficulties reported in the publication concerns the inability of some respondents
to distinguish between official and unofficial payments. Another complication is associated with the refusal of
some respondents to answer questions on informal patient payments.
We do not exclude the possibility that we have missed studies that reported in non-English language journals as
well as very recent studies that are not yet published.
Conclusions: Given the recent evidence from research on survey methods, a self-administrated questionnaire
during a face-to-face interview could be a suitable mode of collecting sensitive data, such as data on informal
patient payments.
Keywords
health care
Citation
Empirical studies on informal patient payments for health care services: A systematic and critical review of research methods and instruments / Tetiana Stepurko, Milena Pavlova, Irena Gryga, Wim Groot // BMC Health Services Research. - 2010. - Vol. 10. - P. 273-285.