Distribution of Doctors and Outpatient Service Workload by Thai Elderly at the Provincial Level, 2021
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Published
Jan 24, 2023
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Abstract
The arrival of an aging society has increased the demand for health services. The number of physicians affects the ability to provide health care services to the elderly. The ratio of the elderly population to physician in Thailand has improved over the past decade. However, if looking at the distribution of doctors at provincial level, some provinces are far from meeting the needs. In this paper, we explored the elderly population to physician ratio and the use of outpatient services among elderly. The objective was to identify provinces with a shortage of doctors. We used data on physicians and the elderly population from the National Statistical Office during 2019. The number of outpatient services, the first line of health services, were obtained from the Ministry of Public Health. Data on outpatient service usage among elderly people over 60 years of age from public hospitals under the Ministry of Public Health in 2019. The number of elderly outpatient visits per head divided by the total physicians available in the province allowed us to identify which provinces had a relatively high outpatient workload compared to the number of physicians. From the study, it was found that provinces with a physician shortage from higher outpatient workload for physicians in 2019 were: Ranong, Bueng Kan, Nong Bua Lamphu, Uthai Thani, Samut Songkhram, Chainat, Satun, Ang Thong, Phang Nga, and Sing Buri. These provinces did not have a large economic growth size and many provinces were easily accessible. It is recommended that the Ministry of Public Health’s policy on physician distribution should also focus on not-remote provinces, in addition to those remote and difficult to access.
Keywords: Outpatient Services, Elderly, Doctor Distribution
References
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Panpiemras, J., Puttitanun, T., Samphantharak, K., & Thampanishvong, K. (2011). Impact of Universal Health Care Coverage on Patient Demand for Health Care Services in Thailand. Health Policy, 103(2-3), 228-235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2011.08.008
Rabbanikhah, F., Moradi, R., Mazaheri, E., Shahbazi, S., Barzegar, L., & Karyani, A. K. (2018). Trends of Geographic Distribution of General Practitioners in the Public Health Sector of Iran. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 7, 1-8. http://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_14_18
Saijo, Y., Yoshioka, E., Hanley, S. J. B., Kitaoka, K., & Yoshida, T. (2018). Job Stress Factors Affect Workplace Resignation and Burnout Among Japanese Rural Physicians. The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine, 245(3), 167-177. http://doi.org/10.1620/tjem.245.167
Suphanchaimat, R., Wisaijohn, T., Thammathacharee, N., & Tangcharoensathien, V. (2013). Projecting Thailand Physician Supplies between 2012 and 2030: Application of Cohort Approaches. Human Resources for Health, 11, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1186/1478-4491-11-3
Thammatacharee, N., Tisayaticom, K., Suphanchaimat, R., Limwattananon, S., Putthasri, W., Netsaengtip, R., & Tangcharoensathien, V. (2012). Prevalence and Profiles of Unmet Healthcare need in Thailand. BMC Public Health, 12, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-923
The World Bank. (n.d.). Physicians (Per 1,000 People). Retrieved from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.MED.PHYS.ZS
United Nations. (2019). World Population Prospects 2019: Highlights. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/development/desa/publications/world-population-prospects-2019-highlights.html
Wibulpolprasert, S., & Pengpaibon, P. (2003). Integrated Strategies to Tackle the Inequitable Distribution of Doctors in Thailand: Four Decades of Experience. Human Resources for Health, 1, 1-17. http://doi.org/10.1186/1478-4491-1-12
Witthayapipopsakul, W., Cetthakrikul, N., Suphanchaimat, R., Noree, T., & Sawaengdee, K. (2019). Equity of Health Workforce Distribution in Thailand: An Implication of Concentration Index. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, 12, 13-22. https://doi.org/10.2147/RMHP.S181174
Arbabi, H., Alishahi, S., Sobhiyah, M. H., & Taheripour, S. (2020). Analyzing Stakeholders’ Interactions in an Urban Project with Non-level Intersection in Urmia Using the Power and Interest Matrix and Social Network Analysis. Motaleate Shahri, 10(37), 71–84. http://doi.org/10.34785/J011.2020.361
Cao, X., Bai, G., Cao, C., Zhou, Y., Xiong, X., Huang, J., & Luo, L. (2020). Comparing Regional Distribution Equity Among Doctors in China Before and After the 2009 Medical Reform Policy: A Data Analysis from 2002 to 2017. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(5), 1520. http://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051520
Chen, Y., Yin, Z., & Xie, Q. (2014). Suggestions to Ameliorate the Inequity in Urban/Rural Allocation of Healthcare Resources in China. International Journal for Equity in Health, 13, 1-6. http://doi.org/10.1186/1475-9276-13-34
Chiangchaisakulthai, K., Sirikanokvilai, N., Jongudomsuk, P., Chunharas, S., & Fahamnuaypol, P. (2011). Hardship Area: Criteria and Classification. Journal of Health Systems Research, 5(3), 355-362. Retrieved from https://kb.hsri.or.th/dspace/handle/11228/3380
Correia, I., & Veiga, P. (2010). Geographic Distribution of Physicians in Portugal. The European Journal of Health Economics, 11(4), 383-393. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-009-0208-8
Haskins, J. L., Phakathi, S. A., Grant, M., & Horwood, C. M. (2017). Factors Influencing Recruitment and Retention of Professional Nurses, Doctors and Allied Health Professionals in Rural Hospitals in KwaZulu Natal. Health SA Gesondheid, 22, 174-183. https://doi.org/10.4102/hsag.v22i0.984
Jangkhum, T. (2020). The Readiness of the Labor Market to Enter the Aging Society in Thailand. Economics and Public Policy Journal, 11(22), 36-51. Retrieved from https://ejournals.swu.ac.th/index.php/ECONSWU/article/view/14373
Jitapunkul, S., & Wivatvanit, S. (2009). National Policies and Programs for the Aging Population in Thailand. Ageing International, 33, 62-74. http://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-009-9027-6
Jitramontree, N., & Thayansin, S. (2013). Social Welfare for Older Persons in Thailand: Policy and Recommendation. Journal of Public Health and Development, 11(3), 39-47. Retrieved from https://he01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/AIHD-MU/article/view/15180
Mendelow, A. L. (1981). Environmental Scanning--The Impact of the Stakeholder Concept. In International Conference on Information System (ICIS) 1981 Proceeding (pp. 407-418). Retrieved from https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis1981/20
Mendelow, A. L. (1983). Setting Corporate Goals and Measuring Organizational Effectiveness—A Practical Approach. Long Range Planning, 16(1), 70-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/0024-6301(83)90135-8
Nishiura, H., Barua, S., Lawpoolsri, S., Kittitrakul, C., Leman, M. M., Maha, M. S., & Muangnoicharoen, S. (2004). Health Inequalities in Thailand: Geographic Distribution of Medical Supplies in the Provinces. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health, 35(3), 735-740. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15689097/
Noree, T., Pagaiya, N., & Nimnual, I. (2022). Effect of Doctor Allocation Policies on the Equitable Distribution of Doctors in Thailand. Research Square. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1928511/v1
NSO Interactive Dashboard. (2021). Ratio of Medical Staff to Population. Retrieved from http://ittdashboard.nso.go.th/preview.php?id_project=60
Pagaiya, N., Kongkam, L., & Sriratana, S. (2015). Rural Retention of Doctors Graduating from the Rural Medical Education Project to Increase Rural Doctors in Thailand: A Cohort Study. Human Resources for Health, 13, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-015-0001-y
Pagaiya, N., & Noree, T. (2009). Thailand’s Health Workforce: A Review of Challenges and Experiences. In Health, Nutrition and Population (HNP) Discussion Paper. Washington, DC.: World Bank. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10986/13666
Pál, V., Lados, G., Makra, Z. I., Boros, L., Uzzoli, A., & Fabula, S. (2021). Concentration and Inequality in the Geographic Distribution of Physicians in the European Union, 2006–2018. Regional Statistics, 11(3), 3-28. http://doi.org/10.15196/RS110308
Panpiemras, J., Puttitanun, T., Samphantharak, K., & Thampanishvong, K. (2011). Impact of Universal Health Care Coverage on Patient Demand for Health Care Services in Thailand. Health Policy, 103(2-3), 228-235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2011.08.008
Rabbanikhah, F., Moradi, R., Mazaheri, E., Shahbazi, S., Barzegar, L., & Karyani, A. K. (2018). Trends of Geographic Distribution of General Practitioners in the Public Health Sector of Iran. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 7, 1-8. http://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_14_18
Saijo, Y., Yoshioka, E., Hanley, S. J. B., Kitaoka, K., & Yoshida, T. (2018). Job Stress Factors Affect Workplace Resignation and Burnout Among Japanese Rural Physicians. The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine, 245(3), 167-177. http://doi.org/10.1620/tjem.245.167
Suphanchaimat, R., Wisaijohn, T., Thammathacharee, N., & Tangcharoensathien, V. (2013). Projecting Thailand Physician Supplies between 2012 and 2030: Application of Cohort Approaches. Human Resources for Health, 11, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1186/1478-4491-11-3
Thammatacharee, N., Tisayaticom, K., Suphanchaimat, R., Limwattananon, S., Putthasri, W., Netsaengtip, R., & Tangcharoensathien, V. (2012). Prevalence and Profiles of Unmet Healthcare need in Thailand. BMC Public Health, 12, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-923
The World Bank. (n.d.). Physicians (Per 1,000 People). Retrieved from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.MED.PHYS.ZS
United Nations. (2019). World Population Prospects 2019: Highlights. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/development/desa/publications/world-population-prospects-2019-highlights.html
Wibulpolprasert, S., & Pengpaibon, P. (2003). Integrated Strategies to Tackle the Inequitable Distribution of Doctors in Thailand: Four Decades of Experience. Human Resources for Health, 1, 1-17. http://doi.org/10.1186/1478-4491-1-12
Witthayapipopsakul, W., Cetthakrikul, N., Suphanchaimat, R., Noree, T., & Sawaengdee, K. (2019). Equity of Health Workforce Distribution in Thailand: An Implication of Concentration Index. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, 12, 13-22. https://doi.org/10.2147/RMHP.S181174
Section
Review Articles
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How to Cite
TONBOOT, Sila; WATTANADUMRONG, Bhagaporn; PANNARUNOTHAI, Supasit.
Distribution of Doctors and Outpatient Service Workload by Thai Elderly at the Provincial Level, 2021.
Journal of Community Development Research (Humanities and Social Sciences), [S.l.], v. 16, n. 1, p. 1-12, jan. 2023.
ISSN 2985-0231.
Available at: <https://www.journal.nu.ac.th/JCDR/article/view/Vol-16-No-1-2023-1-12>. Date accessed: 25 apr. 2024.
doi: https://doi.org/10.14456/jcdr-hs.2023.1.