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BMC Health Services Research
Published in: BMC Health Services Research 1/2015

Open Access 01-06-2015 | Research article

What are the similarities and differences in structure and function among the three main models of community health centers in China: a systematic review

Authors: Haitao Li, Dongfu Qian, Sian Griffiths, Roger Yat-nork Chung, Xiaolin Wei

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

There are three major models of primary care providers (Community Health Centers, CHCs) in China, i.e., government managed, hospital managed and privately owned CHCs. We performed a systematic review of structures and health care delivery patterns of the three models of CHCs.

Methods

Studies from relevant English and Chinese databases for the period of 1997–2011 were searched. Two independent researchers extracted data from the eligible studies using a standardized abstraction form. Methodological quality of included articles was assessed with the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT).

Results

A total of 13 studies was included in the final analysis. Compared with the other two models, private CHCs had a smaller health workforce and lower share of government funding in their total revenues. Private CHCs also had fewer training opportunities, were less recognized by health insurance schemes and tended to provide primary care services of poor quality. Hospital managed CHCs attracted patients through their higher quality of clinical care, while private CHCs attracted users through convenience and medical equipment.

Conclusions

Our study suggested that government and hospital managed CHCs were more competent and provided better primary care than privately owned CHCs. Further studies are warranted to comprehensively compare performances among different models of CHCs.
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Metadata
Title
What are the similarities and differences in structure and function among the three main models of community health centers in China: a systematic review
Authors
Haitao Li
Dongfu Qian
Sian Griffiths
Roger Yat-nork Chung
Xiaolin Wei
Publication date
01-06-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-015-1162-z

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