The Impact of Broadband Infrastructure Construction on Medical Resource Mismatch: Quasi-Natural Experiment From the Broadband China Policy
BackgroundWhether the construction of broadband infrastructure can alleviate the problem of mismatched medical resources is crucial to the national information strategy, residents’ well-being, and social equity. However, the academic community lacks a comprehensive theoretica...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| Online Access: | https://www.jmir.org/2024/1/e53921 |
| _version_ | 1797253694163517440 |
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| author | Yulin Chai Xiaoping Yuan Lin Guo Zhongming Chen |
| author_facet | Yulin Chai Xiaoping Yuan Lin Guo Zhongming Chen |
| author_sort | Yulin Chai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundWhether the construction of broadband infrastructure can alleviate the problem of mismatched medical resources is crucial to the national information strategy, residents’ well-being, and social equity. However, the academic community lacks a comprehensive theoretical analysis and rigorous empirical research on this issue.
ObjectiveThis study aims to construct a preliminary theoretical framework to scientifically assess the effects of broadband infrastructure development on the mitigation of health care resource mismatch from both theoretical and empirical perspectives, to explore the potential mechanisms of influence, and ultimately to develop several practical policy recommendations.
MethodsWe first used a theoretical analysis to propose testable theoretical hypotheses and establish a preliminary theoretical framework. Then, based on balanced panel data from 300 cities from 2010 to 2021, a 2-way fixed effects difference-in-differences model was used for empirical testing. Mechanism tests, robustness analyses, and heterogeneity analyses were further conducted.
ResultsThe research findings demonstrate that the Broadband China Policy significantly reduces the degree of mismatch in medical resources by primarily using innovation effects and integration effects, resulting in a reduction of 13.2%. In addition, the heterogeneity analysis reveals that the central and eastern regions, cities with large populations, and areas with a high proportion of young people benefit more significantly.
ConclusionsThis study fully confirms, both theoretically and empirically, that broadband infrastructure construction can effectively reduce the mismatch of medical resources not only by expanding the existing literature on the impact of broadband on public services but also by providing valuable opportunities for policy makers to optimize the allocation of medical resources. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T21:38:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-30fdc5d4077c486fa4f2da82eaf2cb09 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1438-8871 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T21:38:08Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-30fdc5d4077c486fa4f2da82eaf2cb092024-03-21T15:30:32ZengJMIR PublicationsJournal of Medical Internet Research1438-88712024-03-0126e5392110.2196/53921The Impact of Broadband Infrastructure Construction on Medical Resource Mismatch: Quasi-Natural Experiment From the Broadband China PolicyYulin Chaihttps://orcid.org/0009-0001-3607-9473Xiaoping Yuanhttps://orcid.org/0009-0004-1370-2674Lin Guohttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6467-2963Zhongming Chenhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9378-6676 BackgroundWhether the construction of broadband infrastructure can alleviate the problem of mismatched medical resources is crucial to the national information strategy, residents’ well-being, and social equity. However, the academic community lacks a comprehensive theoretical analysis and rigorous empirical research on this issue. ObjectiveThis study aims to construct a preliminary theoretical framework to scientifically assess the effects of broadband infrastructure development on the mitigation of health care resource mismatch from both theoretical and empirical perspectives, to explore the potential mechanisms of influence, and ultimately to develop several practical policy recommendations. MethodsWe first used a theoretical analysis to propose testable theoretical hypotheses and establish a preliminary theoretical framework. Then, based on balanced panel data from 300 cities from 2010 to 2021, a 2-way fixed effects difference-in-differences model was used for empirical testing. Mechanism tests, robustness analyses, and heterogeneity analyses were further conducted. ResultsThe research findings demonstrate that the Broadband China Policy significantly reduces the degree of mismatch in medical resources by primarily using innovation effects and integration effects, resulting in a reduction of 13.2%. In addition, the heterogeneity analysis reveals that the central and eastern regions, cities with large populations, and areas with a high proportion of young people benefit more significantly. ConclusionsThis study fully confirms, both theoretically and empirically, that broadband infrastructure construction can effectively reduce the mismatch of medical resources not only by expanding the existing literature on the impact of broadband on public services but also by providing valuable opportunities for policy makers to optimize the allocation of medical resources.https://www.jmir.org/2024/1/e53921 |
| spellingShingle | Yulin Chai Xiaoping Yuan Lin Guo Zhongming Chen The Impact of Broadband Infrastructure Construction on Medical Resource Mismatch: Quasi-Natural Experiment From the Broadband China Policy Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| title | The Impact of Broadband Infrastructure Construction on Medical Resource Mismatch: Quasi-Natural Experiment From the Broadband China Policy |
| title_full | The Impact of Broadband Infrastructure Construction on Medical Resource Mismatch: Quasi-Natural Experiment From the Broadband China Policy |
| title_fullStr | The Impact of Broadband Infrastructure Construction on Medical Resource Mismatch: Quasi-Natural Experiment From the Broadband China Policy |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Impact of Broadband Infrastructure Construction on Medical Resource Mismatch: Quasi-Natural Experiment From the Broadband China Policy |
| title_short | The Impact of Broadband Infrastructure Construction on Medical Resource Mismatch: Quasi-Natural Experiment From the Broadband China Policy |
| title_sort | impact of broadband infrastructure construction on medical resource mismatch quasi natural experiment from the broadband china policy |
| url | https://www.jmir.org/2024/1/e53921 |
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