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Too many cooks could spoil the broth: choice overload and the provision of ambulatory health care

Author

Listed:
  • Helmut Herwartz

    (University of Goettingen)

  • Christoph Strumann

    (University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck)

Abstract

Patient empowerment calls for an intensified participation of (informed) patients with more treatment opportunities to choose from. A growing body of literature argues that confronting consumers with too many opportunities can lead to a choice overload (CO) resulting in uncertainty that the selected alternative dominates all other options in the choice set. We examine whether there is a CO effect in the demand for ambulatory health care in Germany by analyzing the association of medical specialists supply on so-called patients’ health uncertainty. Further, we investigate if the CO effect is smaller in areas with a higher density of general practitioners (GPs). We find that patients who live in an area with a large supply of specialists are subject to a CO effect that is expressed by an increased health uncertainty. The coordinating role of GPs seems to be effective to reduce the CO effect, while preserving free consumer choice.

Suggested Citation

  • Helmut Herwartz & Christoph Strumann, 2024. "Too many cooks could spoil the broth: choice overload and the provision of ambulatory health care," International Journal of Health Economics and Management, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 357-373, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:ijhcfe:v:24:y:2024:i:3:d:10.1007_s10754-024-09379-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10754-024-09379-y
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Choice overload; Patient choice; Health care coordination; Spatial distribution of health services;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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