Design and application of a survey for measuring multidimensional access to health services

GONZÁLEZ, G.P.; GERI, M.; MORENO, M.S.; ARNAUDO, M.F.; LAGO, F.P.; ELORZA, M.E.; MOSCOSO, N.S.; BLANCO, A.M.

Journal of Healthcare Quality Research

Elsevier

Año: 2025

2603-6479

Objectives: Access to health services is a critical factor in ensuring equitable healthcare deliv-ery. Understanding patient perspectives on barriers and obstacles to healthcare access isessential for improving health outcomes. This study aims to design and test an instrumentto assess self-perceived access to health services across different levels of care, encompassingall process dimensions.Methods: The survey, constructed with an interdisciplinary approach, is administered at thehousehold level. It was validated by experts and approved by a Bioethics Committee. Thissurvey was conducted in a medium-sized city in Argentina.Results: The validated instrument provides a comprehensive tool to investigate, from thepatient’s perspective and preferences, the barriers that prevent a health need from becominga demand and the obstacles to effectively using the needed healthcare service. The implemen-tation of the survey revealed significant insights into these issues.Conclusions: Our instrument offers valuable insights into the patient-perceived barriers tohealthcare access. It is a robust tool for identifying the obstacles that impede the utiliza-tion of health goods and services in the different levels of care, thereby improving healthcare delivery systems.