The interrelationship among health workforce, quality of care, and health outcomes in Turkey

Abstract

Better health outcomes can be achieved in the pursuit of strong human resources and high‐quality healthcare services. Turkey is a specific case with a scarcity of healthcare workers under its healthcare reform movements. This study seeks to understand the interrelationship among human resources, quality of care services, and health outcomes in Turkey. Data for testing the model were gathered from the Turkish Statistical Institute for the 81 provinces of Turkey. Path analysis was used to model the associations among human resources, quality of care services, and health outcomes. To test the goodness of the model, multiple criteria of model fit indices were utilized. The fit of the redefined path analytic model data was good (normed fit index was 0.96, comparative fit index was 0.96, and goodness of fit index was 0.93). The study findings highlight the strong interrelationship among human resources, quality of care services, and health outcomes. These results clarify a strong interlinkage among the number of nurses/midwives, the number of hospital admissions, and mortality rates. Optimal staffing policies by considering the quality of care services will provide benefits for policymakers in achieving high‐quality health outcomes and better preparation for health crises, and will ensure a stronger healthcare system.