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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
1

Effektiviseringsmöjligheter avseende fyllnadsgrad : En jämförande analys mellan nuläge och optimerat resultat

Axelsson, Manfred, Johansson, Amandus January 2016 (has links)
The study aims to provide information on efficiency opportunities on SCA's northbound cassettes. It has been made by examining the capacity utilization rate on the northbound cassettes on SCA's vessels for a period of two weeks. The cargo loaded in the ports of Rotterdam and Sheerness consists of external cargo of varying shape. The cargo is shipped northbound to Holmsund and Sundsvall. Measurements have been made on the cargo to the final destinations Sundsvall, Holmsund and Finland. The measurements have been used in a mathematical optimization model created to optimize the loading of the cassettes. The model is based on placing boxes in a grid where the boxes that are placed representing the cargo and the grids representing the cassettes. The aim of the model is to reduce the number of cassettes and thereby increase the capacity utilization rate. The study resulted in an increase in capacity utilization rate for both area and volume to all destinations. The overall improvement for all cassettes examined resulted in an increase in the area capacity utilization rate by 9.02 percentage points and 5.72 percentage points for the volume capacity utilization rate. It also resulted in a decrease of 22 cassettes in total on the four voyages that were examined which indicate that there are opportunities to improve the capacity utilization rate. The study also shows that the model can be used as a basis for similar problems.
2

Forage Improvements and Riparian Buffers for Water Quality and Sustainability: A Small Farm Management Plan

Slusser, Robert S. 07 January 2005 (has links)
Black Hawk Creek was included in the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) 303(d) list of impaired waters in 1998 due to non-point sources of fecal coliform bacteria. Water quality degradation in the stream network is also impacted by excess nutrients in surface runoff from cropped fields and pastures, sedimentation erosion of streambanks from the high volume of water flow following storm events, and the pulse of enriched groundwater drained into the streams from the subsurface tile network. Rotational grazing will replace the current continuous grazing management system. Implementation includes controlling both sides of Black Hawk Creek in the permanent pastures with electric fencing, installing reinforced controlled stream crossing sites, establishing a permanent clean water distribution system and enhancing the Kentucky bluegrass dominated pastures with three cool season naturalized grass and three legume species adapted to the north central Iowa loess landscape. Multi-species ripariain buffers based on the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture's model and other models based on simulating the functionality of presettlement ecosystem savannah grassland will be created between monocultures of corn and soybean fields and the stream network. Follow on studies will monitor the effectiveness of a managed forage sward, riparian buffers, and natural healing of streambanks to mitigate excess nutrient movement into the streams. / Master of Natural Resources
3

Variation in Computerized Tomography Scan Utilization

Xie, Xiaojin 09 November 2010 (has links)
The U.S. health care system is one of the most expensive health care systems in the world, yet it is not as efficient as it is expected. Studies have shown that the use of expensive imaging procedures, such as CT scans, was significantly increasing for the past few years. However, the increased number of CT scans may not help to improve quality of care. No studies are conducted on investigate geographic variation on CT scan usage rate. This research is the first one to examine CT scan usage rate among counties and to examine variation caused by patient and hospital characteristics. We used the 2007 HCUP-SID database provided data for the research. GIS graph was used to illustrate geographic variation on CT scan usage in New York State. Contingency tables were developed to evaluate to what extent patient and hospital characteristics contribute to the variation. A logistic regression model was built to control the variation caused by patient and hospital characteristics in order to find variation contributed by other potential factors such as availability of CT scanners and radiologists. Significant geographic variation of CT scan usage rate in the county level of New York State was found. Patient demographics, insurance status and medical conditions as well as hospital bed size and teaching status were contributing factors to the variation. After controlling these factors, significant geographic variation was still found. It indicates that other potential reasons would influence the technology use. / Master of Science
4

Comparative Analysis of Tag Estimation Algorithms on RFID EPC Gen-2 Performance

Ferdous, Arundhoti 28 June 2017 (has links)
In a passive radio-frequency identification (RFID) system the reader communicates with the tags using the EPC Global UHF Class 1 Generation 2 (EPC Gen-2) protocol with dynamic framed slotted ALOHA. Due to the unique challenges presented by a low-power, random link, the channel efficiency of even the most modern passive RFID system is less than 40%. Hence, a variety of methods have been proposed to estimate the number of tags in the environment and set the optimal frame size. Some of the algorithms in the literature even claim system efficiency beyond 90%. However, these algorithms require fundamental changes to the underlying protocol framework which makes them ineligible to be used with the current hardware running on the EPC Gen-2 platform and this infrastructure change of the existing industry will cost billions of dollars. Though numerous types of tag estimation algorithms have been proposed in the literature, none had their performance analyzed thoroughly when incorporated with the industry standard EPC Gen-2. In this study, we focus on some of the algorithms which can be utilized on today’s current hardware with minimal modifications. EPC Gen-2 already provides a dynamic platform in adjusting frame sizes based on subsequent knowledge of collision slots in a given frame. We choose some of the popular probabilistic tag estimation algorithms in the literature such as Dynamic Frame Slotted ALOHA (DFSA) – I, and DFSA – II, and rule based algorithms such as two conditional tag estimation (2CTE) method and incorporate them with EPC Gen-2 using different strategies to see if they can significantly improve channel efficiency and dynamicity. The results from each algorithm are also evaluated and compared with the performance of pure EPC Gen-2. It is important to note that while integrating these algorithms with EPC Gen-2 to modify the frame size, the protocol is not altered in any substantial way. We also kept the maximum system efficiency for any MAC layer protocol using DFSA as the upper bound to have an impartial comparison between the algorithms. Finally, we present a novel and comprehensive analysis of the probabilistic tag estimation algorithms (DFSA-I & DFSA-II) in terms of their statistically significant correlations between channel efficiency, algorithm estimation accuracy and algorithm utilization rate as the existing literature only look at channel efficiency with no auxiliary analysis. In this study, we use a scalable and flexible simulation framework and created a light-weight, verifiable Gen-2 simulation tool to measure these performance parameters as it is very difficult, if not impossible, to calculate system performance analytically. This framework can easily be used to test and compare more algorithms in the literature with Gen-2 and other DFSA based approaches.
5

The Relative Importance of Various Factors in the Selection of Privately Funded Long Term Health Care Facilities

Keyt, John C., Cangelosi, Joseph D. 01 January 2015 (has links)
This paper focuses on the major decision variables and appertaining decision makers in the selection of long term health care facilites. The literatures identifies principal decision makers as physicians and females between the ages of 45 and 65, and that the decision making process is usually rushed, haphazard, and guilt-ridden. The results of the study cite five decision factors perceived as most important by physicians and females age 45 to 65. The study concludes by comparing these results and recommending a more aggressive marketing communeiations effort by long term health care facilities.
6

Optimering av schemaläggning utifrån Leans principer : En fallstudie

Holmberg, Malin, Karlsson Sokolov, Victoria January 2021 (has links)
The profession of naprapathy came to Sweden in 1970 and has been a certified profession in Swedish health care since 2007. Given that naprapathy is relatively new in Swedish healthcare and is mainly conducted by private actors, it is of great interest to investigate what is considered an effective clinic, "more Lean", linked to the time optimization of a naprapath and more specifically the scheduling. The purpose of the study is consequently to identify the scheduling process and any shortcomings in it, as well as to report opportunities for improvement linked to the utilization rate of working hours. In order to fulfill the purpose of the study, it was considered relevant to start from theories within mainly Lean, process mapping and the Cornerstone model. The design that has been used for the study is a single case study. Within the framework of the case study, benchmarking and document collection have been carried out, as well as surveys and interviews. Collected data gave a result which meant that the case study company has a utilization rate of the time of 66 percent and waste of 34 percent. The questionnaires answered that the most common expectations that the clinic is open are Monday to Friday between 8 and 18, and the most common times that customers have the opportunity to visit the clinic were Monday to Sunday at 16-18. Based on the results given, it was established based on Lean's principles that the main shortcomings of the scheduling process are the following: Short-term thinking, demand does not control, uneven workload and non-continuous workflows. These shortcomings are best addressed based on Lean's principles by: Creating goals and vision, creating scheduling routines, conducting customer surveys and optimizing systems. / År 1970 kom naprapatin till Sverige och är sedan år 2007 ett legitimerat yrke inom svensk hälsa- och sjukvård. Med tanke på att naprapatin är förhållandevis nytt inom svensk vård och huvudsakligen bedrivs av privata aktörer är det av stort intresse att undersöka vad som är att anses som en effektiv klinik, “mer Lean”, kopplat till tidsoptimeringen av naprapaterna och mer specifikt schemaläggningen. Syftet med studien är följaktligen att identifiera schemaläggningsprocessen och eventuella brister i den, samt redovisa förbättringsmöjligheter kopplade till nyttjandegraden av arbetstid. För att uppfylla syftet med studien ansågs det relevant att utgå från teorier inom huvudsakligen Lean, processkartläggning och Hörnstensmodellen. Designen som har används för studien är en single case study. Inom ramen för fallstudien har benchmarking och dokumentinsamling genomförts samt enkäter och intervjuer. Insamlade data gav ett resultat som innebar att fallstudieföretaget har en nyttjandegrad av tiden på 66 procent och slöseri på 34 procent. Enkäterna gav svar att de vanligaste förväntningarna att kliniken har öppet är måndag till fredag mellan kl. 8 och 18, och de vanligaste tiderna som kunder har möjlighet att besöka kliniken var måndag till söndag kl. 16-18. Utifrån givna resultat konstaterades det utifrån Leans principer att de främsta bristerna med schemaläggningsprocessen är följande: Kortsiktigt tänkande, efterfrågan styr inte, ojämn arbetsbelastning och icke kontinuerliga arbetsflöden. Dessa brister åtgärdas bäst utifrån Leans principer genom att: Skapa mål och vision, skapa schemaläggningsrutiner, göra kundundersökningar och optimera system.
7

Flödesoptimering i begränsande resurs / Flow optimization in constraining resource

Bergström, Jesper, Karlsson, Rickard January 2012 (has links)
Most companies have a bottleneck in their production, that is a constraining re-source. When the demand is higher than the capacity in the constraining resource it is impossible to produce the demanded output. This problem leads to delayed deliveries, unhappy customers and ultimately to decreased revenue. Bottlenecks therefore has a significant role in production and must be handled thereof.MW Power in Sävsjö, Sweden designs and manufactures water and steam boilers for the customer's unique needs. MW Power invested in a new plasma cutting ma-chine but the machine has not reached the expected capacity. The capacity prob-lem is due to time consuming set-up times, machine care and material supply which makes the plasma cutting machines utilization rate 37.5 %.The study’s purpose aims to maximize the material flow through the plasma cut-ting machine. In order to answer the purpose, two thesis questions are used: “How can increased machine time in the plasma cutting machine be achieved?” and “How can the ma-terial flow to and from the plasma cutting machine be improved so that the actual capacity can be increased?”To answer the thesis questions, the study had a deductive approach in which ex-isting theories has been applied to real life case.In order to streamline the plasma cutting machine and the processes directly re-lated to it, the material flow upstream, the material flow through and the material flow downstream of the plasma cutting machine has been mapped and analyzed. In order to maximize the flow of material through the plasma cutting machine, setup times must be reduced to increase the capacity.The plasma cutting machine requires maintenance by the operator at regular basis where the nozzles and other consumables in the plasma cutting machine burner must be replaced. A SMED-analysis has been undertaken which shows that the internal set-up operations should be converted to external set-up operations. Re-placement of nozzles and consumables should be an external set-up operation and this can be achieved by purchasing more burners.The plasma cutting machine also has access to unmanned production which will be able to increase the capacity, since it can be running after hours.The material flow upstream and downstream must be improved through better planning of cutting orders and with a more efficient return flow. Prioritizing mate-rial supply to the constraining resource is crucial to secure that material shortages do not occur in the plasma cutting machine.If the study proposed measures are implemented, the material flow through the plasma cutting machine will be maximized. / De flesta företag har en flaskhals i sin produktion, alltså en begränsande resurs. När efterfrågan är större än kapaciteten hos den begränsande resursen kan den mängd output som efterfrågas ej levereras. Detta leder till försenade leveranser, missnöjda kunder och i förlängningen till minskade intäkter. Flaskhalsar har därför en betydande roll inom produktion och måste därför hanteras.Företaget MW Power i Sävsjö konstruerar och tillverkar kundanpassade ång- och hetvattenpannor. Företaget har investerat i en ny plasmaskärmaskin som inte har nått förväntad kapacitet. Problemen är bl.a. att ställ, maskinvård och materialtill-försel tar lång tid vilket gör att plasmaskärmaskinens utnyttjandegrad endast är 37,5 %.Syftet med studien är att maximera materialflödet genom plasmaskärmaskinen. För att uppfylla syftet kan detta brytas ner i två problemfrågor. Dessa är; Hur kan maskintiden i plasmaskärmaskinen ökas? samt Hur kan materialflödet till och från plasma-skärmaskinen förbättras så att utnyttjandet av den verkliga kapaciteten ökas?För att svara på problemfrågorna har studien haft en deduktiv ansats där befintliga teorier genom litteraturstudier tagits fram för att sedan applicerats på verkligheten.För att kunna effektivisera plasmaskärmaskinen och processer direkt anknutna till denna har materialflödet uppströms, materialflödet genom och materialflödet ned-ströms från plasmaskärmaskinen kartlagts och analyserats.För att maximera materialflödet genom plasmaskärmaskinen måste ställtider minskas för att kunna öka utnyttjandegraden och därmed nyttokapaciteten.Plasmaskärmaskinen kräver underhåll av operatören vid jämna mellanrum där munstycken och andra slitagedelar i plasmaskärmaskinens brännare måste bytas ut. En SMED-analys har genomförts där det framgår att interna ställ bör göras om till externa ställ. Byte av munstycken och andra slitagedelar är idag ett internt ställ vilket kan göras om till ett externt ställ genom att köpa in fler brännare.Plasmaskärmaskinen har även tillgång till obemannad styrning vilket kommer kunna öka nyttokapaciteten eftersom den då kan vara igång utanför ordinarie ar-betstid.Materialflödet uppströms och nedströms måste effektiviseras genom bättre plane-ring av skärordrar och ett effektivare och minskat returflöde samt genom att prio-ritera materialtillförseln så att materialbrist ej uppstår i plasmaskärmaskinen.Om studien föreslagna åtgärder genomförs kommer materialflödet genom plasma-skärmaskinen att maximeras.
8

Optimeringsmetod för färdigvarulager : En fallstudie hos Emballator Växjöplast / Optimization method for finished goods warehouse : A case study based on Emballator

Lidner, Beatrice, Grenstadius, Emilia January 2018 (has links)
Uppsatsen undersöker hur Emballator Växjöplast prioriterar och resonerar kring aspekterna volymutnyttjande, plocktid, säkerhet, kapitalbindning och servicenivå vid optimering av deras färdigvarulager. Författarna kom fram till följande slutsats: Fallföretaget prioriterar säkerhet högst för att skydda individen Servicenivå prioriteras efter säkerhet då de arbetar kundfokuserat. Efter servicenivå prioriteras volymutnyttjande för att minska sin externlagring. Plocktid prioriteras efter volymutnyttjande där målsättningen är att undvika nyanställningar. Sist prioriteras kapitalbindning då denna inte är fokus för logistikfunktionen.   Vidare undersöker författarna hur en multi-criteria optimization av aspekterna vid optimering av färdigvarulagret kan gå till. Författarna kommer fram till följande slutsatser: The main criteria method är bäst lämpad optimeringsmetod. Volymutnyttjande ska minimeras givet att resterande aspekter uppfyller respektive bivillkor. De flesta förvaringsmetoder och artikelplaceringar uppfyller aspekternas bivillkor Bäst lämpad förvaringsmetod och artikelplacering grundas därför på vilken som möjliggör bäst volymutnyttjande. Slutligen utvärderas Emballator Växjöplasts nuvarande färdigvarulager sett till aspekterna utifrån analysen för frågeställning 2. Här presenteras även kortsiktiga och långsiktiga förbättringsförslag. Författarna kom fram till följande slutsats: Deras nuvarande förpackning, förvaringsmetod samt artikelplacering tillgodoser respektive bivillkor men kan förbättras sett till the main criteria, volymutnyttjande. Ett kortsiktigt förbättringsförslag genom att utföra en liknande artikelplacering på bättre sätt kan upp till 38-57 fler pallar rymmas på färdigvarulagret. Ett långsiktigt förbättringsförslag genom att kombinera traditionella pallställage och drive-through eller push-back-hyllor, kan totala antal pallplatser på färdigvarulagret öka med 18,4 %. / The essay examines how Emballator Växjöplast prioritize and reason among the aspects safety, service level, utilization rate, order picking time and capital tied up in inventory when optimizing their finished goods warehouse. The authors came to the following conclusion: Firstly, they prioritize safety the highest to protect the individuals within the warehouse. Service level is prioritized secondly because they operate with a customer focus. After service level utilization rate is prioritized to lower their need for external storage. Order picking time is prioritized after utilization rate with the goal to avoid the need for employing more operators within the warehouse. Lastly capital tied up in inventory is prioritized because the aspect is not in focus for the logistics department.   Moreover, the authors investigate how multi-criteria optimization as an optimization method can be used when optimizing a finished goods warehouse considering several contradictive aspects and the conclusion is: The main criteria method is best suited in optimization method. Utilization rate is the main criteria and the other aspects are constraints. The majority of storage systems and storage assignment policy are within the constraints. The best storage systems and storage assignment policy is therefore mainly determined by the main criteria.   Lastly a discussion regarding the finished goods warehouse is held and both short term and long term improvements regarding the aspects are presented. The conclusions made by the authors are as follows: Their current packaging, storage systems and storage assignment policy is sufficient in terms of the different constraints but the main criteria can be improved. Short term improvements are to use a similar storage assignment policy in a better way and enable room for 38-57 more pallets in the finished goods warehouse. Long term improvements are to improve both storage assignment policy and the storage system. By combining traditional racks with some other storage system such as drive-through or push-back-shelves the number of pallets that can fit within the warehouse can increase by 18,4%.
9

Decentralized Finance and the Crypto Market: Indicators and Correlations / Decentraliserad Finans och Kryptomarknaden: Indikatorer ochKorrelationer

Dahlberg, Tobias, Dabaja, Fadel January 2021 (has links)
Background: Within the emerging field of cryptocurrencies, the sub-sector DeFi (decentralized finance) has experienced explosive growth over the last year, and its importance for crypto as a whole has grown with it. The currencies have developed from simple peer-to-peer transactions to complex applications such as lending and exchanges. Several studies have researched determinants of cryptocurrency prices, and a few have focused on metrics central to DeFi, such as total value locked (TVL). However, academia has aimed sparse attention to the relationships between these metrics, which this article seeks to amend.  Aim: The purpose of this essay is to research the relationship between total value locked (TVL) in DeFi, the prices of native tokens on related platforms, and the price of ether, which is the dominant currency across DeFi.  Methodology: This study is deductive and quantitative and categorized as a causal-comparative thesis. The purpose of causal-comparative research is to find relationships between variables, independent and dependent, over a certain period.  The authors used deductive reasoning to form the hypotheses and collect the data necessary to investigate the hypothesis. Additionally, the structure of the paper and the epistemological process is quantitative and based on the scientific method.  The sources used for data gathering have primarily been DefiPulse and their API:s, retrieved using simple python coding and different applications that parse JSON code into the excel format. The transparent nature of blockchain has provided easy access to data needed for this study. Once the data was collected, it was categorized and compiled into an Excel sheet.  Conclusions: It is a considerable result that the ratio of locked ETH to total supply lacks significance for the price of ether, as it is counterintuitive to the macroeconomic theory of demand and supply. Presumably, the locked eth is not to be considered as a corresponding decrease in supply. However, if that was the case, the locked ratio of 10% is considerable and should affect the price as there is less supply available to the market.  In accordance with hypotheses two, three, and four, changes in the price of ether, TVL, and utilization rate affect the price of the native token. A notable distinction between the three different platforms lies in what metrics correlate more strongly with price changes. It for Compound and Aave was TVL, but utilization rate for MakerDAO. What causes these differences between seemingly similar platforms is a subject for further study.
10

全民健保下之預防醫療照護需求研究:婦女子宮抹片檢查之利用 / The Demand for Preventive Care Services under National Health Insurance System: Pap-smear Testing Utilization

林晏如, Yen-Ju,Lin Unknown Date (has links)
台灣地區自民國八十四年三月開始實行全民健保,並於同年七月起提供三十歲以上婦女每年一次免費抹片檢查,但我國婦女抹片檢查利用率和先進國家相比仍舊偏低。爰此,本論文主要目的,在探討台灣地區婦女在健保制度下抹片篩檢利用度的影響因素,藉由實證分析結果,期能提供政府當局有效提高篩檢率的具體方針和建議,以有效降低婦女子宮頸癌的發生率和死亡率。 第二章為理論架構,分別應用Becker(1965)的家庭生產函數和Grossman(1972)的健康需求模型,以建構影響抹片檢查需求的理論模型,並為本論文實證分析的理論基礎。本論文實證分析共分三章,首先利用衛生署國民健康局家庭計畫研究所,分別於民國81年及87年進行的「台灣地區家庭與生育力調查」資料,採用Logit迴歸模型做分析。實證結果發現,抹片檢查接受與否的影響因素在健保實施前後有很大差異,而「南部*全民健保」及「鄉鎮*全民健保」的變數對30歲以上婦女亦為顯著正相關;意味健保制度的推行,沖消掉大多數變數的影響效果,使得原本具有影響力的因素變為不顯著,亦即健保政策在婦女抹片防癌使用度的增加有很大貢獻。此外,政府除了對30歲以上女性提供免費檢查給付政策外,亦積極加強衛教宣導工作、建立子宮頸抹片篩檢服務網等工作,使得「全民健保」變數不僅對30歲以上婦女,亦對30歲以下婦女有顯著的正影響力,故建議政府可考慮將篩檢給付擴及至所有已婚女性。 接者,在第四章則利用國家衛生研究院於民國90年所進行的「國民健康訪問調查」資料,應用Bivariate Probit 迴歸模型,並將台灣地區所有316個鄉鎮市分成八個都市化層級,探討都市化程度高低對婦女預防保健利用度之影響。結果發現都市化程度不同,的確造成婦女抹片檢查利用率存在顯著差異,居住在第二至第六個都市化層級的婦女,其接受抹片篩檢的比率明顯較都市化程度最高者低;而第七和第八層級(都市化程度最低)並無顯著較第一層級不願做篩檢。究其原因,乃因政府為均衡不同地區抹片篩檢的可近性,積極鼓勵相關醫療院所加入健保特約醫院,以配合健保給付政策並提供篩檢服務,至民國86年,有超過90%約1500家的醫療院所加入;此外,衛生當局亦在偏遠地區提供巡迴車設站採檢服務,以解決偏遠地區醫療資源不足問題。意味全民健保制度在婦女抹片檢查服務上,已達到提昇偏遠地區醫療服務可近性的貢獻。 最後,在第五章我們利用國民健康局於民國91年所進行的「國民健康促進知識、態度與行為調查」資料,應用兩階段最小平方法(2SLS)估計模型,分析健康資訊對抹片檢查的影響程度。應用Kenkel(1990)衡量資訊的方法,將受訪者對子宮頸癌及抹片檢查相關知識的得分加總,以代表婦女健康資訊程度。實證結果發現,健康資訊的確是影響婦女是否接受抹片檢查的重要因素,擁有愈多相關健康資訊的婦女,因愈了解抹片檢查對預防子宮頸癌的重要,故明顯較願意去接受篩檢。因此,政府除了積極全面衛教宣導工作、建立子宮頸抹片篩檢服務網等工作外,也應針對擁有較低健康資訊的婦女多加宣導抹片防癌的重要性,以有效提高我國婦女的篩檢利用率。 / The National Health Insurance program provided free annual cervical cancer screening for women aged above 30 years old since July, 1995, just four months after the inauguration of the NHI. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation is to investigate the demand for Pap-smear utilization among women under NHI program. To explore the factors influencing cervical cancer screening and the empirical results can be of great importance to health policy decisions aimed at reducing the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer. In Chapter 2, we attempt to analyze the theoretical foundations applying the household production function developed by Becker (1965) and Grossman’s (1972) health decision-making model and summarize the literatures through a review of the demand for preventive care services. Three empirical essays will proceed in following three chapters. First of all, chapter 3 presents data obtained from the 1992 and 1998 surveys on ‘Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice’ administered by Taiwan’s Provincial Institute of Family, performing a logit model. The results show that factors affecting Pap smear test utilization varied significantly before and after NHI, besides, the coefficient of the South*NHI and village/town*NHI interaction variable for women above 30 become significant and positive. This indicates that NHI system plays an important contributor on reducing the disparities in utilization of Pap smear tests between different areas. In addition to NHI coverage, other strategies such as strengthening educational activities and establishing a service network for Pap-smear screening are other vital contributors to increase the utilization rate of Pap smear screening for those aged below 30 years under NHI. To further increase the utilization of cervical cancer screening, the insurance coverage could be extended to all married women regardless of age. In chapter 4, we attempt to explore the impact of urbanization level on the use of female preventive services under NHI, using a bivariate probit model and dataset obtained from the 2001 National Health Interview Survey provided by the National Health Research Institutes. All 316 cities/counties in Taiwan was stratified into 8 levels of urbanization. The results showed that urbanization levels have a significant influence on Pap-smear screening. Those living between the second and sixth levels of urbanized regions were significant negative to the cervical cancer screening compared to the highest urbanization level. In order to balance the accessibility of cervical cancer screening between different areas, the health authorities encourage the obstetric, gynecological hospitals and clinics to contract with the government, more than 90%, about 1,500 medical care institutions were under contract until 1997. Besides, government authorities introduced mobile testing stations to provide specimen collection services in the deeper remote regions. As a result, those living in the areas with the 7th level and the 8th level (the lowest level) of urbanization were not less likely to take Pap-smear test. It means that the implementation of NHI has enhanced the accessibility of taking pap-smear test. Finally, in chapter 5, the nationwide survey dataset was obtained from the 2002 Health Promotion of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice (HPKAP) in Taiwan, provided by the Bureau of Health Promotion and two-stage estimation model was adopted to investigate the association of cervical cancer screenings with the healthcare information. The results showed that women’s healthcare information has a significant positive effect on the utilization of cervical cancer screening; that is, the more informed women are, in terms of information and knowledge on cervical cancer screening, the more likely they are to undergo Pap-smear testing. Therefore, it is important for the healthcare authorities to place greater effort into strengthening the knowledge and information on cervical cancer screening and Pap-smear testing, for those who are currently less informed, so as to enhance the overall efficiency of the screening program.

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