Differences in Perceived Waiting Time by Health Insurance Type in the Inpatient Sector: An Analysis of Patients With Breast Cancer in Germany
Although the relationship between health insurance and waiting time has been established in the ambulatory sector in Germany, research in the inpatient sector is limited. This study aims to contribute to previous work through analyzing differences in perceived waiting time by health insurance type d...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2019-09-01
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| Series: | Inquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/0046958019875897 |
| _version_ | 1818127337656418304 |
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| author | Susan Lee PhD Sophie E. Gross PhD Holger Pfaff PhD Antje Dresen PhD |
| author_facet | Susan Lee PhD Sophie E. Gross PhD Holger Pfaff PhD Antje Dresen PhD |
| author_sort | Susan Lee PhD |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although the relationship between health insurance and waiting time has been established in the ambulatory sector in Germany, research in the inpatient sector is limited. This study aims to contribute to previous work through analyzing differences in perceived waiting time by health insurance type during the inpatient stays of patients with breast cancer in Germany. This study utilizes cross-sectional data from 2017 of patients with breast cancer (N = 4626) who underwent primary breast cancer surgery in a certified breast care center in Germany. Results from multilevel logistic regression models indicate a significant effect of health insurance status on perceived waiting time, net of other relevant factors (patient’s sociodemographic background, Union for International Cancer Control stage, grading, self-reported and classified health, type of surgery, and chemotherapy). Patients with statutory insurance were significantly more likely than privately insured patients to report long waiting times for examinations/procedures, discharge, and to speak with the physician. There were no significant differences in waiting time for nursing staff between private and statutory insurance holders. Results align with previous findings in the ambulatory sector and suggest a private health insurance advantage, with private patients receiving priority to some health care services. Disparities in health care accessibility and quality need to continue to be addressed and discussed, as well as the impact of health insurance type on other indicators of health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T07:15:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-427046feb90949fcac9eb677d50ce2c2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0046-9580 1945-7243 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T07:15:45Z |
| publishDate | 2019-09-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Inquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing |
| spelling | doaj.art-427046feb90949fcac9eb677d50ce2c22022-12-22T01:16:14ZengSAGE PublishingInquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing0046-95801945-72432019-09-015610.1177/0046958019875897Differences in Perceived Waiting Time by Health Insurance Type in the Inpatient Sector: An Analysis of Patients With Breast Cancer in GermanySusan Lee PhD0Sophie E. Gross PhD1Holger Pfaff PhD2Antje Dresen PhD3University of Cologne, GermanyLVR-Klinik, Cologne, GermanyUniversity of Cologne, GermanyUniversity of Cologne, GermanyAlthough the relationship between health insurance and waiting time has been established in the ambulatory sector in Germany, research in the inpatient sector is limited. This study aims to contribute to previous work through analyzing differences in perceived waiting time by health insurance type during the inpatient stays of patients with breast cancer in Germany. This study utilizes cross-sectional data from 2017 of patients with breast cancer (N = 4626) who underwent primary breast cancer surgery in a certified breast care center in Germany. Results from multilevel logistic regression models indicate a significant effect of health insurance status on perceived waiting time, net of other relevant factors (patient’s sociodemographic background, Union for International Cancer Control stage, grading, self-reported and classified health, type of surgery, and chemotherapy). Patients with statutory insurance were significantly more likely than privately insured patients to report long waiting times for examinations/procedures, discharge, and to speak with the physician. There were no significant differences in waiting time for nursing staff between private and statutory insurance holders. Results align with previous findings in the ambulatory sector and suggest a private health insurance advantage, with private patients receiving priority to some health care services. Disparities in health care accessibility and quality need to continue to be addressed and discussed, as well as the impact of health insurance type on other indicators of health.https://doi.org/10.1177/0046958019875897 |
| spellingShingle | Susan Lee PhD Sophie E. Gross PhD Holger Pfaff PhD Antje Dresen PhD Differences in Perceived Waiting Time by Health Insurance Type in the Inpatient Sector: An Analysis of Patients With Breast Cancer in Germany Inquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing |
| title | Differences in Perceived Waiting Time by Health Insurance Type in the Inpatient Sector: An Analysis of Patients With Breast Cancer in Germany |
| title_full | Differences in Perceived Waiting Time by Health Insurance Type in the Inpatient Sector: An Analysis of Patients With Breast Cancer in Germany |
| title_fullStr | Differences in Perceived Waiting Time by Health Insurance Type in the Inpatient Sector: An Analysis of Patients With Breast Cancer in Germany |
| title_full_unstemmed | Differences in Perceived Waiting Time by Health Insurance Type in the Inpatient Sector: An Analysis of Patients With Breast Cancer in Germany |
| title_short | Differences in Perceived Waiting Time by Health Insurance Type in the Inpatient Sector: An Analysis of Patients With Breast Cancer in Germany |
| title_sort | differences in perceived waiting time by health insurance type in the inpatient sector an analysis of patients with breast cancer in germany |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/0046958019875897 |
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