Measuring Efficiency of Knowledge Production in Health Research Centers Using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA): A Case Study in Iran
Introduction: Efficiency analysis is necessary in order to avoid waste of materials, energy, effort, money, and time during scientific research. Therefore, analyzing efficiency of knowledge production in health areas is necessary, especially for developing and in-transition countries. As the first...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Electronic Physician
2016-11-01
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| Series: | Electronic Physician |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5358925/ |
| Summary: | Introduction: Efficiency analysis is necessary in order to avoid waste of materials, energy, effort, money, and
time during scientific research. Therefore, analyzing efficiency of knowledge production in health areas is
necessary, especially for developing and in-transition countries. As the first step in this field, the aim of this study
was the analysis of selected health research center efficiency using data envelopment analysis (DEA).
Methods: This retrospective and applied study was conducted in 2015 using input and output data of 16 health
research centers affiliated with a health sciences university in Iran during 2010–2014. The technical efficiency of
health research centers was evaluated based on three basic data envelopment analysis (DEA) models: input- oriented, output-oriented, and hyperbolic-oriented. The input and output data of each health research center for
years 2010–2014 were collected from the Iran Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHE) profile and
analyzed by R software.
Results: The mean efficiency score in input-oriented, output-oriented, and hyperbolic-oriented models was
0.781, 0.671, and 0.798, respectively. Based on results of the study, half of the health research centers are
operating below full efficiency, and about one-third of them are operating under the average efficiency level.
There is also a large gap between health research center efficiency relative to each other.
Conclusion: It is necessary for health research centers to improve their efficiency in knowledge production
through better management of available resources. The higher level of efficiency in a significant number of health
research centers is achievable through more efficient management of human resources and capital. Further
research is needed to measure and follow the efficiency of knowledge production by health research centers
around the world and over a period of time. |
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| ISSN: | 2008-5842 2008-5842 |