engleski

Importance of Health Care Issues in 2005 Presidential Elections in Croatia

Aim: To investigate the importance of issues related to health care provision in the 2005 Presidential elections in Croatia. Methods: A computer randomized, two-stage stratified telephone survey of a 1000 respondents sample of the Croatian voting population was surveyed in December 2004, 5 days prior to Presidential elections. Respondents were asked to rank priority areas in politics and specific priority areas in health care. Only responses from those voters who identified the two most likely candidates were used in analysis: candidates Stipe Mesić and Jadranka Kosor (center left and center right political options). Results were analyzed with chi-square test and binary logistic regression. Results: Citizens ranked health care issues as their second most important priority in politics, preceded only by economic issues. Top three priority areas recognized in health care were organization (24.7%), financing (23.2%) and corruption (24.3%). Ranking of priority areas in health care varied insignificantly between left and right wing candidate voters. However, right wing oriented voters were more likely to identify lack of finances as the top health priority in the multivariable model (Odds ratios 2.21, 95% CI 1.25 - 3.89). There were no other differences between the two candidate groups. Conclusion: Health and health care ranked as the second most important issue in the list of general priorities in Croatia. The study recorded a strikingly high level of homogeneity between specific health care priority areas in the two groups of voters. The phenomenon might be attributed to the magnitude and importance of issues that burden the basic functioning of the health care system: poor organization, inadequate financing and corruption. Public opinion on health care priorities might be a useful tool in determining priorities for policymaking, especially in transitional health care systems undergoing reforms.

health care; health care reform; strategies for health

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