An analysis of operational efficiency and its influencing factors in traditional Chinese medicine hospitals in Shaanxi Province, China

BackgroundOver the past decade, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) hospitals in China have experienced significant growth. However, their developmental status remains unclear, posing challenges to the formulation and optimization of relevant healthcare policies. This study aimed to assess the operat...

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Main Authors: Jieming Zhang, Yan Li, Huiyang Qu, Penggang Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1499134/full
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author Jieming Zhang
Yan Li
Huiyang Qu
Penggang Chen
author_facet Jieming Zhang
Yan Li
Huiyang Qu
Penggang Chen
author_sort Jieming Zhang
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundOver the past decade, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) hospitals in China have experienced significant growth. However, their developmental status remains unclear, posing challenges to the formulation and optimization of relevant healthcare policies. This study aimed to assess the operational efficiency of TCM hospitals in Shaanxi Province and explore its influencing factors, thereby providing empirical evidence to support performance improvement.MethodsA total of 167 TCM hospitals in Shaanxi Province were included in this study. The Bootstrap Data Envelopment Analysis (Bootstrap-DEA) was utilized to calculate bias-corrected operational efficiency scores. Subsequently, Tobit regression analysis was used to identify significant determinants of efficiency, offering a comprehensive understanding of influencing factors.ResultsAfter bias-correction, operational efficiency scores decreased across all hospitals. Tertiary hospitals had the highest mean operational efficiency score (0.457), followed by secondary hospitals (0.374), unclassified hospitals (0.354), and primary hospitals (0.329). Tobit regression indicated that the total number of visits, number of discharged patients, and bed occupancy rate positively influenced efficiency scores (p < 0.05), whereas number of employees and average length of stay had a negative impact (p < 0.05).ConclusionThe development of TCM hospitals in Shaanxi Province remains uneven, and overall operational efficiency is suboptimal. Enhancing efficiency requires targeted strategies, such as optimizing staffing levels, reducing the average length of stay, and improving bed utilization. These findings offer practical insights for policymakers to support the sustainable development of TCM hospitals.
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spelling doaj-art-9898fa2ef5184987ab9207fdb1dbd1122025-08-20T05:32:27ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-08-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.14991341499134An analysis of operational efficiency and its influencing factors in traditional Chinese medicine hospitals in Shaanxi Province, ChinaJieming ZhangYan LiHuiyang QuPenggang ChenBackgroundOver the past decade, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) hospitals in China have experienced significant growth. However, their developmental status remains unclear, posing challenges to the formulation and optimization of relevant healthcare policies. This study aimed to assess the operational efficiency of TCM hospitals in Shaanxi Province and explore its influencing factors, thereby providing empirical evidence to support performance improvement.MethodsA total of 167 TCM hospitals in Shaanxi Province were included in this study. The Bootstrap Data Envelopment Analysis (Bootstrap-DEA) was utilized to calculate bias-corrected operational efficiency scores. Subsequently, Tobit regression analysis was used to identify significant determinants of efficiency, offering a comprehensive understanding of influencing factors.ResultsAfter bias-correction, operational efficiency scores decreased across all hospitals. Tertiary hospitals had the highest mean operational efficiency score (0.457), followed by secondary hospitals (0.374), unclassified hospitals (0.354), and primary hospitals (0.329). Tobit regression indicated that the total number of visits, number of discharged patients, and bed occupancy rate positively influenced efficiency scores (p < 0.05), whereas number of employees and average length of stay had a negative impact (p < 0.05).ConclusionThe development of TCM hospitals in Shaanxi Province remains uneven, and overall operational efficiency is suboptimal. Enhancing efficiency requires targeted strategies, such as optimizing staffing levels, reducing the average length of stay, and improving bed utilization. These findings offer practical insights for policymakers to support the sustainable development of TCM hospitals.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1499134/fullbootstrap DEA modelTobit modelhospital of traditional Chinese medicinetechnical efficiencyoperational efficiencyhealthcare management
spellingShingle Jieming Zhang
Yan Li
Huiyang Qu
Penggang Chen
An analysis of operational efficiency and its influencing factors in traditional Chinese medicine hospitals in Shaanxi Province, China
Frontiers in Public Health
bootstrap DEA model
Tobit model
hospital of traditional Chinese medicine
technical efficiency
operational efficiency
healthcare management
title An analysis of operational efficiency and its influencing factors in traditional Chinese medicine hospitals in Shaanxi Province, China
title_full An analysis of operational efficiency and its influencing factors in traditional Chinese medicine hospitals in Shaanxi Province, China
title_fullStr An analysis of operational efficiency and its influencing factors in traditional Chinese medicine hospitals in Shaanxi Province, China
title_full_unstemmed An analysis of operational efficiency and its influencing factors in traditional Chinese medicine hospitals in Shaanxi Province, China
title_short An analysis of operational efficiency and its influencing factors in traditional Chinese medicine hospitals in Shaanxi Province, China
title_sort analysis of operational efficiency and its influencing factors in traditional chinese medicine hospitals in shaanxi province china
topic bootstrap DEA model
Tobit model
hospital of traditional Chinese medicine
technical efficiency
operational efficiency
healthcare management
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1499134/full
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