Volume 23, Issue 1 (3-2020)
Hakim 2020, 23(1): 130-143 |
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Mehrara M, Farshchi M. Effect of Education Level on Urban Households’ Medical Treatment Spending Using Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA). Hakim 2020; 23 (1) :130-143
URL: http://hakim.tums.ac.ir/article-1-2016-en.html
URL: http://hakim.tums.ac.ir/article-1-2016-en.html
1- PhD, Prof., Faculty of Economics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. , mmehrara@ut.ac.ir
2- PhD, Candidate, Alborz Campus, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
2- PhD, Candidate, Alborz Campus, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract: (960 Views)
Introduction: Grossman’s study on health demand extends the function of household production for health and assumes that households combine medical care and time to produce health. In this study, education as an environmental variable increases the efficiency in health production.
Methods: The association between households’ education and family spendings on health care such as outpatient visits, prescription drug, dental care, and mental care in urban families was examined by using the data of the 1393 to 1396 Iranian survey on household incomes and expenses and Bayesian Model Averaging.
Results: The results showed that the effect of education on outpatient and dental costs is stronger than on pharmaceutical costs. The effect of education on mental costs is significant only for masters’ and Ph.D. groups. In most of these cases, the wives’ education was more important than the husbands’ education. The income variable affected dental costs more than out-patient costs and prescription drug costs but its impact on mental costs was negligible due to little Posterior inclusion probability and small coefficient. Therefore, high educational and social status has more effects than households’ income on patients’ visits to psychiatrists. Insurance status did not affect dental and psychiatric costs but reduced outpatient spendings and increased prescription drug expenditures. Thus, the most important moral hazard risk of insurance was related to pharmaceutical costs.
Conclusion: Higher education leads to increased health care costs. Therefore, by improving the educational conditions for low-income and low-educated households, community health develops and households become healthier.
Methods: The association between households’ education and family spendings on health care such as outpatient visits, prescription drug, dental care, and mental care in urban families was examined by using the data of the 1393 to 1396 Iranian survey on household incomes and expenses and Bayesian Model Averaging.
Results: The results showed that the effect of education on outpatient and dental costs is stronger than on pharmaceutical costs. The effect of education on mental costs is significant only for masters’ and Ph.D. groups. In most of these cases, the wives’ education was more important than the husbands’ education. The income variable affected dental costs more than out-patient costs and prescription drug costs but its impact on mental costs was negligible due to little Posterior inclusion probability and small coefficient. Therefore, high educational and social status has more effects than households’ income on patients’ visits to psychiatrists. Insurance status did not affect dental and psychiatric costs but reduced outpatient spendings and increased prescription drug expenditures. Thus, the most important moral hazard risk of insurance was related to pharmaceutical costs.
Conclusion: Higher education leads to increased health care costs. Therefore, by improving the educational conditions for low-income and low-educated households, community health develops and households become healthier.
| Please cite this article as follows: Mehrara M, Farshchi M. Effect of education level on urban households’ medical treatment spending using bayesian model averaging (BMA). Hakim Health Sys Res. 2020; 23(1): 130-143. |
*Corresponding Author: Department of Economics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. Tel: (+98)2188004486, E-mail: mmehrara@ut.ac.ir
Keywords: Ambulatory Cost, Prescription Drugs Cost, Dental Cost, Mental Cost, Education, Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA)
Type of Study: Applicable |
Subject:
General
Received: 2020/05/1 | Accepted: 2020/03/20 | Published: 2020/03/20
Received: 2020/05/1 | Accepted: 2020/03/20 | Published: 2020/03/20
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