The Impact of Broadband Infrastructure Construction on Medical Resource Mismatch: Quasi-Natural Experiment From the Broadband China Policy.

Autor:	Chai Y; School of Management, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, China., Yuan X; School of Psychology, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, China., Guo L; School of Management, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, China., Chen Z; School of Management, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, China.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Journal of medical Internet research [J Med Internet Res] 2024 Mar 21; Vol. 26, pp. e53921. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Mar 21.
DOI:	10.2196/53921
Abstrakt:	Background: Whether the construction of broadband infrastructure can alleviate the problem of mismatched medical resources is crucial to the national information strategy, residents' well-being, and social equity. However, the academic community lacks a comprehensive theoretical analysis and rigorous empirical research on this issue. Objective: This study aims to construct a preliminary theoretical framework to scientifically assess the effects of broadband infrastructure development on the mitigation of health care resource mismatch from both theoretical and empirical perspectives, to explore the potential mechanisms of influence, and ultimately to develop several practical policy recommendations. Methods: We first used a theoretical analysis to propose testable theoretical hypotheses and establish a preliminary theoretical framework. Then, based on balanced panel data from 300 cities from 2010 to 2021, a 2-way fixed effects difference-in-differences model was used for empirical testing. Mechanism tests, robustness analyses, and heterogeneity analyses were further conducted. Results: The research findings demonstrate that the Broadband China Policy significantly reduces the degree of mismatch in medical resources by primarily using innovation effects and integration effects, resulting in a reduction of 13.2%. In addition, the heterogeneity analysis reveals that the central and eastern regions, cities with large populations, and areas with a high proportion of young people benefit more significantly. Conclusions: This study fully confirms, both theoretically and empirically, that broadband infrastructure construction can effectively reduce the mismatch of medical resources not only by expanding the existing literature on the impact of broadband on public services but also by providing valuable opportunities for policy makers to optimize the allocation of medical resources. (©Yulin Chai, Xiaoping Yuan, Lin Guo, Zhongming Chen. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 21.03.2024.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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