THE COMPARSION BETWEEN PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS IN
Transcript of THE COMPARSION BETWEEN PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS IN
The Journal of Academic Social Science Studies
International Journal of Social Science
Volume 6 Issue 3, p. 1299-1311, March 2013
THE COMPARSION BETWEEN PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND
UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS IN TERMS OF ONLINE WEB
SERVICES IN TURKEY
TÜRKİYE’DEKİ DEVLET, ÖZEL VE ÜNİVERSİTE HASTANELERİNİN ONLİNE
WEB SERVİSLERİ BAKIMINDAN KARŞILAŞTIRILMASI
Asst. Prof. Dr. Abdulkadir ÖZDEMİR Atatürk University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Management Information
Systems
Selçuk BAKAN Atatürk University Research Hospital Information Technology Department
Associate. Prof. Dr. Abdullah NARALAN Atatürk University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Management Information
Systems
Abstract
Nowadays, some opportunities such as accessing test results, making
appointment for treatment, making investigation for selection of doctors or
hospitals, informing advices or complains are some simple operations, and
contacting with doctors for consultation encourge people to use internet.
In this research, a comparison of providing online health services between
public, university and private hospitals have been made in terms of presenting
these services.
This study has been carried out as access and investigation of websites
between April and July 2011. More than 350 hospitals including public,
university, and private hospitals which are operating currently in the city centre
in Turkey have been included to this research. Hospitals without websites have
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been excluded. The content of websites and the variety of health services has
been examined and links in websites has been checked that whether it works
properly.
Hospitals will provide presenting of health services online and taking
advantage of this services without going to hospitals for people who have to go
there personally. This kind of services provide commercial advantages, because
of the importance of time in these days.
Key Words: Internet, Web Sites, Health Services
Öz
Günümüzde hastaneye gitmek için sıra alma işleminin internetten
yapılabiliyor ve test sonuçlarına internetten erişilebiliyor olması, doktor
muayenesi için randevu alma, doktor seçimi için çalışma listelerine ulaşabilme,
hasta ve ailelerinin sağlık problemleri ile ilgili bilgi almada hekimlerle çevrimiçi
bağlantı kurabilme gibi imkanlar insanları interneti kullanmaya teşvik eder hale
gelmiştir.
Bu çalışmada hastane web sitelerinin internet üzerinden çevrimiçi olarak
verdikleri sağlık hizmetleri araştırılmış, kamu hastaneleri, üniversite hastaneleri
ve özel hastaneler arasında bu hizmetlerin sunumu açısından bir karşılaştırma
yapılmıştır.
Bu çalışma Nisan-Temmuz 2011 tarihleri arasında site erişim ve
incelemeleri şeklinde gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmaya Türkiye genelinde ve şehir
merkezlerinde faaliyet gösteren 350’den fazla devlet hastanesi, üniversitesi
hastanesi ve A sınıfı özel hastane dahil edilmiştir. Web sitesi olmayan hastaneler
çalışma dışı bırakılmıştır. Sitelerin içerikleri incelenmiş, sitelerde çevrimiçi olarak
hangi sağlık hizmetlerinin verildiğine bakılmış ve verilen linklerin sağlıklı olarak
çalışıp çalışmadığı kontrol edilmiştir.
Hastane web sitelerinde çevrimiçi sağlık hizmetleri sunumu ile bu tür
hizmetleri almak için sağlık kurumuna bizzat gelmesi gereken insanların
bulundukları yerlerde bu hizmetlerden faydalanmasını sağlayacaktır. Zamanın
büyük bir öneme sahip olduğu günümüzde, insanlara kolaylık sağlayacak bu tür
hizmetler kuruluşlar açısından da ticari avantajlar sağlayacaktır.
Bu çalışma asli görevi sağlık hizmeti sunmak olan tüm hastanelerin, web
sitesine sahip olmaları, web sitesi olan hastanelerin de etkin olarak çevrimiçi
hizmet sunma gerekliliğini ortaya çıkarmaktadır.
Anahtar Kelimeler: İnternet, Web Sitesi, Sağlık Hizmetleri
The Comparsion Between Public, Private And University Hospitals
In Terms Of Online Web Services In Turkey 1301
INTRODUCTION
In recent years, development of information technology causes more usage of
internet in Turkey as in the world. Presenting more desirable options have generalized
usage of internet at home and workplaces. Internet has become usable more frequently
in many fields such as communication, education, shopping and banking.
In this research, a consideration of providing online health services between
public, university and private hospitals have been made in terms of presenting these
services. While conducting this study, with the ideas of which health services can be
provided online, what kind of health services can be useful for people, many important
hospitals’ websites has been visited in Turkey as in the world. These ideas constitutes
the main topics of this paper.
MATERIAL-METHOD
This study has been carried out as access and investigation of websites between
April and July 2011. Hospitals including 259 public, 55 university, and 48 A class
private hospitals which are operating currently in the city centre in Turkey have been
included to this research. Data of this study has been gathering with examining
hospitals’ websites. Hospitals without websites have been excluded from this study.
The content of websites and the variety of health services has been examined. Links in
websites has been checked that whether it works properly. During the research,
unreachable sites and sites in preparation phase has been identified and at the end of
the research, these sites has been visited again to update data.
FINDINGS
In this research, many different criterions have been examined, but only 11 of
them have been used.
Having a Web Site: This term can be summarised as having a website which is
in enterprise’s own servers. As shown in Table 1, University Hospitals have the highest
rate which is close to rate of Private Hospitals in terms of this service. However, Public
Hospitals have the lowest rate. Table 1. Having a Web Site
Public Hospitals University Hospitals Private Hospitals
Frequency
Percentage
Frequency
Percentage Frequen
cy Percent
age
Availabl
e 233 89,9 54 98,1 46 95,8
Unavaila
ble 26 10,1 1 1,9 2 4,2
Total 259 100 55 100 48 100
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Figure 1. Having a Web Site
Online Appointment: This system which is thought that it should be all kinds
of hospitals’ websites is provide making treatment appointment whenever patients
want without going to hospitals. Hence, they will not wait to take a place for treatment
and they will minimize the wasting of time. According to research, 60,1% of Public
Hospitals, 53,7% of University Hospitals, and 69,5% of Private Hospitals are providing
this service. As shown in Table 2, Private Hospitals have the highest percent, but
almost half of other kind of hospitals present the same service.
Table 2. Online Appointment
Public Hospitals University Hospitals Private Hospitals
Frequen
cy
Percent
age
Frequen
cy Percentage
Frequen
cy
Percent
age
Availabl
e 140 60,1 29 53,7 32 69,5
Unavaila
ble 93 39,9 25 46,3 14 30,5
Total 233 100 54 100 46 100
Figure 2. Online Appointment
Getting Test Results Online: This is an online system which provides getting
test results which are studied in hospitals’ laboratories. This service is available in
Public Hospitals’ websites with higher percent as 95,3. At the same time, University
Hospitals and Private Hospitals provide this service with rate of 63% and 80,4%
respectively.
The Comparsion Between Public, Private And University Hospitals
In Terms Of Online Web Services In Turkey 1303
Table 3. Online Test Result
Public Hospitals University Hospitals Private Hospitals
Frequen
cy
Percent
age
Frequen
cy Percentage
Frequen
cy
Percent
age
Availabl
e 222 95,3 34 63 37 80,4
Unavaila
ble 11 4,7 20 37 9 19,6
Total 233 100 54 100 46 100
Figure 3. Online Test Result
Online Doctor Selection: In this system, patients can get examined by doctor
who can be selected by them online. This service is available 42,5% of rate in Public
Hospitals’ websites, but University Hospitals’ and Private Hospitals’ have 1,9% and
4,3% of low rate. In Turkey, hospitals which depend on Ministry of Health and have
suitable physical infrastructure is presenting this service since October 2007. However,
this basic right for patient and their relatives is not valid for University and Private
Hospitals. It is identified that the rate of having this system is too low as shown in
Table 4.
Table 4. Online Doctor Selection
Public Hospitals University Hospitals Private Hospitals
Frequen
cy
Percent
age
Frequen
cy Percentage
Frequen
cy
Percent
age
Availabl
e 99 42,5 1 1,9 2 4,3
Unavaila
ble 134 57,5 53 98,1 44 95,7
Total 233 100 54 100 46 100
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Figure 4. Online Doctor Selection
E-Membership: In this system, to be created a healthy file which includes all
information about patient, people can be a member of the websites. This service is
available 17,6% of rate in Public Hospitals’ websites, 11,1% of rate in University
Hospitals and 39,1% of rate in Private Hospitals. In case of increasing this rate, it can be
foreseen that patients and doctors can take advantage of it.
Table 5. E-Membership
Public Hospitals University Hospitals Private Hospitals
Frequen
cy Percent
age Frequen
cy Percentage
Frequency
Percentage
Availabl
e 41 17,6 6 11,1 18 39,1
Unavaila
ble 192 82,4 48 88,9 28 60,9
Total 233 100 54 100 46 100
Figure 5. E-Membership
E-Consultation: In this system, online people and patient can get information
about health problems and healthy life. This service is available 39,5% of rate in Public
Hospitals’ websites, 22,2% of rate in University Hospitals and 34,8% of rate in Private
Hospitals. People can make interactive connections with doctors and get help about
their health problems by means of this service availability. Besides, people can take
advantage of online consultation.
The Comparsion Between Public, Private And University Hospitals
In Terms Of Online Web Services In Turkey 1305
Table 6. E-Consultation
Public Hospitals University Hospitals Private Hospitals
Frequen
cy
Percent
age
Frequen
cy Percentage
Frequen
cy
Percent
age
Availabl
e 92 39,5 12 22,2 16 34,8
Unavaila
ble 141 60,5 42 77,8 30 65,2
Total 233 100 54 100 46 100
Figure 6. E-Consultation
E-Baby: With this online service, a portal is created on hospitals’ websites for
new born babies. In this system, all information about babies including diary, calendar
of vaccine and photo album are stored and the development of babies can be
monitored online. This service is available 3% of rate in Public Hospitals’ websites,
9,3% of rate in University Hospitals and 47% of rate in Private Hospitals as shown in
Table 7.
Table 7. E-Baby
Public Hospitals University Hospitals Private Hospitals
Frequen
cy
Percent
age
Frequen
cy Percentage
Frequen
cy
Percent
age
Availabl
e 7 3 5 9,3 22 47,8
Unavaila
ble 226 97 49 90,7 24 52,2
Total 233 100 54 100 46 100
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Figure 7. E-Baby
E-Get Well Message: This service provides sending a get well message to
patients online. This service is available 18% of rate in Public Hospitals’ websites, 9,3%
of rate in University Hospitals and 32,6% of rate in Private Hospitals.
Table 8. E-Get Well Message
Public Hospitals University Hospitals Private Hospitals
Frequen
cy Percent
age Frequen
cy Percentage
Frequency
Percentage
Availabl
e 42 18 5 9,3 15 32,6
Unavaila
ble 191 82 49 90,7 31 67,4
Total 233 100 54 100 46 100
Figure 8. E-Get Well Message
E-Visit: In this system, patients can be monitored and made interactive
conversations by means of cameras which are setup in hospital. This service is
available 0,086% of rate in Public Hospitals’ websites 3,7% of rate in University
Hospitals and 10,9% of rate in Private Hospitals. Both E-Get Well Message and E-Visit
services can be considered as a reducer of number of visitors. With increase of these
hospitals which are providing these services, the infection about hospitals can drop
and take under control undoubtedly. For this situation, both systems should use in all
kind of hospitals increasingly.
Table 9. E-Visit
Public Hospitals University Hospitals Private Hospitals
Frequen
cy Percent
age Frequen
cy Percentage
Frequency
Percentage
Availabl
e 2 0,086 2 3,7 5 10,9
Unavaila
ble 231 99,14 52 96,3 41 89,1
Total 233 100 54 100 46 100
The Comparsion Between Public, Private And University Hospitals
In Terms Of Online Web Services In Turkey 1307
Figure 9. E-Visit
E-News: This system informs people with development, announcements, and
actual news about health and its system. This service is not presenting in Public and
University Hospitals at all, but Private Hospitals have 6,5% of rate as low.
Table 10. E-News
Public Hospitals University Hospitals Private Hospitals
Frequen
cy
Percent
age
Frequen
cy Percentage
Frequen
cy
Percent
age
Availabl
e 0 0 0 0 3 6,5
Unavaila
ble 233 100 54 100 43 93,5
Total 233 100 54 100 46 100
Figure 10. E-News
E-Complain or Advice: In this system, patients and their relatives state
their positive and negative opinions. This service is available 59,2% of rate in Public
Hospitals’ websites 40,7% of rate in University Hospitals and 67,4% of rate in Private
Hospitals. For development and growth of an enterprise, it is so important to know the
opinion of people who buy service or goods. For this reason, faults, deficiencies about
management of hospital have to be seen to develop some strategies to prevent them.
On the other hand, with using this service on websites more effectively, the quality of
services can be improved in terms of people’s pleasure.
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Table 11. E-Complain or Advice
Public Hospitals University Hospitals Private Hospitals
Frequen
cy
Percent
age
Frequen
cy Percentage
Frequen
cy
Percent
age
Availabl
e 138 59,2 22 40,7 31 67,4
Unavaila
ble 95 40,8 32 59,3 15 32,6
Total 233 100 54 100 46 100
Figure 11. E-Complain or Advice
All findings which are obtained in this research are shown in Table 12.
Table 12. Comparison of Hospitals’ Websites
Public Hospitals University Hospitals Private Hospitals
Available
(%)
Unavailable
(%)
Available
(%)
Unavailable
(%)
Available
(%)
Unavailabl
e (%)
Having a Web Site 233 (89,9) 26 (10,1) 54 (98,1) 1 (1,9) 46 (95,8) 2 (4,2)
Online Appointment 140 (60,1) 93 (39,9) 29 (53,7) 25 (46,3) 32 (69,5) 14 (30,5)
Online Test Result 222 (95,3) 11 (4,7) 34 (63) 20 (37) 37 (80,4) 9 (19,6)
Doktor Seçimi 99 (42,5) 134 (57,5) 1 (1,9) 53 (98,1) 2 (4,3) 44 (95,7)
E-Membership 41 (17,6) 192 (82,4) 6 (11,1) 48 (88,9) 18 (39,1) 28 (60,9)
E-Consultation 92 (39,5) 141 (60,5) 12 (22,2) 42 (77,8) 16 (34,8) 30 (65,2)
E-Bebeğim 7 (3) 226 (97) 5 (9,3) 49 (90,7) 22 (47,8) 24 (52,2)
E-Get Well Message 42 (18) 191 (82) 5 (9,3) 49 (90,7) 15 (32,6) 31 (67,4)
E-Visit 2 (0,086) 231 (99,14) 2 (3,7) 52 (96,3) 5 (10,9) 41 (89,1)
E-News 0 (0) 233 (100) 0 (0) 54 (100) 3 (6,5) 43 (93,5)
E- Complain or Advice 138 (59,2) 95 (40,8) 22 (40,7) 32 (59,3) 31 (67,4) 15 (32,6)
Distribution of Services On the Basis of Hospital
Obtained findings on the basis of hospitals’ graphs show the relation of
presentation of services with different angles. As shown in the graphs, variety of
services in Private Hospitals is presenting a better way in comparison with Public and
University Hospitals.
The Comparsion Between Public, Private And University Hospitals
In Terms Of Online Web Services In Turkey 1309
Figure 12. The service rates of public hospitals’ websites
Figure 13. The service rates of university hospitals’ websites
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Figure 14. The service rates of private hospitals’ websites
CONCLUSION
Internet finds a widespread use within the health sector just like any other area
of the human life. People who need information about health now can also take
advantage of the internet. It is reported that İnternet more than half of the internet
users now use the internet to obtain information about matters related to health [1].
Also internet is a very valuable communication tool that helps health professionals,
patients and people who carry out research about health to establish communication
and share knowledge. In addition to the diagnosis and advice of the doctors, internet
helps patients to be proactive in relation to how to learn to maintain a healthy life style
[2]. One of the shortcomings of the health sector is that the knowledge base in relation
to health related matters and illnesses. Internet has played a role to overcome this
shortcoming. Internet not only is used as a knowledge base, but also is used as a tool to
prepare before a doctor visit. While some patients ask family or friends to gain
information, most of the patients use the internet to obtain this knowledge [3]. With the
advent of the internet the old way of doctor-patient relationship and the treatments
have changed, whereby the patients look into other options and information regarding
the health [4]. When an infinite source of knowledge base such as the internet meets
matters that are directly related to human health the importance of the hospital
websites became more pronounced. That enforces public, university and private
hospital website ownership rate increases, while making sure the websites are created
in more detail and kept up-to-date.
Rapid advances of information technologies gained more pace with the usage
of internet both in the world and in our country and in parallel to this the internet
usage in relation to the matters related to health became more wide spread. People use
internet before and after getting health treatments. In addition to websites about the
The Comparsion Between Public, Private And University Hospitals
In Terms Of Online Web Services In Turkey 1311
health, people also use internet by accessing hospital websites to gain information
about health, illnesses, treatment methods and ways, which medication to use etc. Not
only that, internet also helps make the whole process of health matters much simpler
and faster.
By means of developing internet technologies, some health services can be
given online as well. Accessing laboratories’ test results, making appointment for
treatment, making investigation for selection of doctors or hospitals, informing advices
or complains are some simple operations which can be done online. With that, internet
plays a critical role in terms of maintenance of people’ health.
Because of all these matters, there is a need to have a website and use it
effectively for public benefit in terms of online services.
In this research, online services which are presenting on websites of public,
university, and private hospitals has been considered in Turkey. According to research,
Private hospitals have high level of service quality more than other hospitals. Public
hospitals follow private hospitals in terms of number of service and its quality in
comparison with university hospitals. In other words, university hospitals can be
considered as the worst one in terms of presenting online health services.
To increase quality in health services and provide facilities in different angle for
people, Ministry of Health, universities and private hospitals should find ways to
present these services more effectively. On the other hand, online health services can
cause some problems. The first matter that can be considered is security of digital
environment. People have privacy in terms of personal information. This information
can be stolen by some malicious people. Therefore, the owners of websites have to take
measures to prevent this situation.
REFERENCES
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World-Wide Web: How the Internet is Changing Healthcare”. Journal of the
Royal Society of Medicine, 96(2), 2003, s.s.74-76.
2. SALO, D., PEREZ, C., LAVERY, R., MALANKAR, A., BORENSTEIN, M.,
BERNSTEIN, S., “Tatient Education and the Internet: Do Patients want us to
provide them with medical web sites to learn more about their medical
problems?", The Journal of Emergency Medicine, 26(3), 2004, 293300, Elsevier Inc.
3. BUDTZ, S., WITT, K., “Consulting the Internet before visit to general practice.
Patients' use of the Internet and other sources of health information”,
Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care, 20(3), 2002, Taylor & Francis Health
Sciences (publisher), part of the Taylor & Francis Group.
4. ERDAL, M., SAYGILI, S., İnternet Sağlık Sektöründe Gizlilik ve Etik Standartlar, 2001,
Erişim tarihi: 06.01.2011 http://inet-tr.org.tr/inetconf7/bildiriler/41.doc.