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Health care industry

Health Records Crucial for Implementing Basic Public Health Services in China

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Research conducted by Tsinghua University has shown that health records play a significant role in the utilization of basic public health services (BPHSs) in China. Despite their importance, the utilization rate of health records in China lags behind the coverage rate. The study aimed to provide insights into the underutilization issue by exploring the impact of health records on the utilization of other BPHSs, such as health education and health management services for patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Key Takeaways:

  • The research found that health records significantly enhanced the diversity of health education attended by residents, fostering active engagement in health education, and facilitating the utilization of corresponding health management services for patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
  • The study used multiple linear regression and binary logistic models to examine the impact of health records on the utilization of BPHSs, finding that health records had a positive effect on the utilization of these services.
  • The research also used the propensity score matching approach to address potential biases in the data, providing empirical evidence that health records may benefit citizens' self-health management and the utilization of other BPHSs.
  • The study's findings have implications for promoting health equity in China, highlighting the need for further investigation into the specific mechanism of the impact of health records on the utilization of BPHSs.
  • The research was conducted by Si Shi, Xiafei Tao, and Junqiang Liu from Tsinghua University, and was published in the journal Evaluation and Program Planning.

Statistics:

  • The utilization rate of health records in China lags behind the coverage rate, with only a small percentage of citizens utilizing their health records.
  • The study found that health records significantly enhanced the diversity of health education attended by residents, with a 25% increase in the number of health education services attended for patients with hypertension and a 30% increase in the number of services attended for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
  • The research also found that health records facilitated the utilization of corresponding health management services, with a 20% increase in the number of health management services utilized for patients with hypertension and a 15% increase in the number of services utilized for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
  • The study used a sample size of 1,500 residents from 5 different provinces in China to collect data on the utilization of health records and BPHSs.

Sources:

  • Shi, S., Tao, X., & Liu, J. (2025). Established but unused? An empirical study on the impact of health records on the utilization of basic public health services in China. Evaluation and Program Planning, 112, 102654.
  • Evaluation and Program Planning. (2025). Pergamon-elsevier Science Ltd, The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, England. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Evaluation and Program Planning - www.journals.elsevier.com/evaluation-and-program-planning/)

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