Responsiveness of hospitals to inpatient and outpatient services in the low‐ and middle‐income countries: A systematic review. (17th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shaqura, Iyad Ibrahim; Jaafaripooyan, Ebrahim; Ahmadi, Batoul; Akbari Sari, Ali
• Is Part Of: International journal of health planning and management. Volume 37:Number 1(2022)
• Page Start: 78
• Page End: 93
• Publication Date: 2021-09-17
• Subjects: assessment -- health services -- health system -- hospitals -- low‐middle income countries -- responsiveness -- systematic review; Health planning -- Periodicals; Health services administration -- Periodicals; Santé publique -- Planification -- Périodiques; Santé, Services de -- Administration -- Périodiques; 362.1068
• DOI: 10.1002/hpm.3328
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0749-6753

Abstract

Abstract: Responsiveness is the ability of health system to satisfy non‐clinical people's expectations. This review aimed at assessing responsiveness of hospitals' services in the low‐ and middle‐income countries, and identifying the influencing factors. This systematic review followed the PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and ProQuest were searched. Studies of all designs aiming to assess responsiveness of hospitals' services in the period from 2005 up to the end of 2018 were included. Quality was appraised based on McMaster University tool. Results were presented as a narrative review. Fifteen studies originated from five low‐middle‐ income countries have been included. Results have been proposed under five subtopics; level and distribution of responsiveness and its domains at hospitals, rank of domains according to the participants, and factors affecting responsiveness and its related domains. Most studies have focused on responsiveness level, but not the distribution. Socioeconomic status, organisational, systemic, and contextual factors have led to varied responsiveness, consequently, policymakers would benefit from these valuable results while planning for improving health system in order to accomplish its intrinsic goals. Further research is required in the low‐ and middle‐income countries other than the five included in this review. Using the World Health Organization questionnaires for measuring responsiveness is recommended, and the contextual variations should be considered.