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Table 1 Input and output variables

From: Health expenditure efficiency in rural China using the super-SBM model and the Malmquist productivity index

Project

Inputs/Outputs

Abbreviation

Measurement and Explanations

References

Input indicators

Healthcare expenditure per capita (yuan)

PPP

Total rural medical and health expenditure / rural population. This input is related to financial health expenditure per capita in rural areas,

[15, 17, 48]

Total expenditure on health (% GDP)

EXP

Total rural medical and health expenditure / GDP × 100%. This input represents the degree of government emphasis on health and its fiscal functions.

[8, 15]

health institution outputs

Number of village clinics per thousand rural population (unit)

NC

Number of village clinics / (rural population ×  1000). This output reflects the health level of the rural residents near a village clinic.

[30, 37, 49]

Number of township health centers per thousand rural population (unit)

NTH

Number of township health centers / (rural population ×  1000). This output describes the health level of the rural residents near a township health center.

[30, 37, 49]

health technical personnel outputs

Village doctors and assistants per 1000 rural population (ren)

DA

Village doctors and assistants / (rural population ×  1000). This output explains the level of human resources in a village clinic.

[9, 22, 23, 37]

Doctors of township health centers per 1000 rural population (ren)

DTH

Doctors of township health centers / (rural population × 1000). This output indicates the proportion of doctors in the township health centers per 1000 rural population.

[9, 37, 50]

Licensed (assistant) doctors of township health centers per 1000 rural population (ren/1000)

LDT

Licensed (assistant) doctors of township health centers / (rural population × 1000). This output indicates the technical level of the medical staff in rural areas.

[5, 17, 22, 50]

Registered nurses of township health centers per 1000 rural population (ren/1000)

NTH

Registered nurses of township health centers / (rural population ×  1000). This output indicates the technical level of nurses in rural areas.

[5, 8, 9]

health facility outputs

Beds per 1000 rural population (beds)

BED

Beds of medical institutions / (rural population × 1000). This output indicates the relative number of beds provided by health institutions.

[10, 12, 23, 51, 50]

utilization rate of

health resource outputs

Outpatients per 1000 rural population (person-times)

NV

Outpatients in township health centers / rural population ×  1000.This output describes the outpatient service level.

[17, 23, 52, 54]

Number of inpatients (person)

NI

Number of inpatients in township health centers / rural population ×  1000. This output describes the inpatient service level.

[9, 23, 49, 50]

Utilization rate of beds (%)

UB

Actual bed days used / actual available bed days × 100%. The key indicator evaluating bed efficiency.

[12, 17, 22]

Average duration of hospitalization (day)

ADH

Total number of bed days occupied by discharged persons/total number of discharged persons. This output describes the extent of health care resource utilization.

[12, 13]