Medical guidelines, physician density, and quality of care: evidence from German SHARE data

Hendrik Jürges () and R. Vincent Pohl ()
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Hendrik Juerges

The European Journal of Health Economics, 2012, vol. 13, issue 5, 635-649

Abstract: We use German SHARE data to study the relationship between district general practitioner density and the quality of preventive care provided to older adults. We measure physician quality of care as the degree of adherence to medical guidelines (for the management of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and the prevention of falls) as reported by patients. Contrary to theoretical expectations, we find only weak and insignificant effects of physician density on quality of care. Our results shed doubt on the notion that increasing physician supply will increase the quality of care provided in Germany’s present health care system. Copyright Springer-Verlag 2012

Keywords: Physician quality of care; Physician density; Preventive care; Chronic disease management; Medical guidelines; I11; I12; J44 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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DOI: 10.1007/s10198-011-0372-5

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