Assessing healthcare access using the Levesque's conceptual framework- a scoping review

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Public Health Policy
• Healthcare Access Studies

Background:

• Universal Healthcare Coverage initiatives aim to improve healthcare access.
• Understanding the multifaceted nature of healthcare access is crucial.
• Levesque's Conceptual Framework of Access to Health offers a comprehensive perspective.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and analyze empirical studies utilizing Levesque's framework for healthcare access.
• To explore researchers' experiences and challenges in applying this framework.
• To assess the framework's utility in developing healthcare access measurement tools.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review of four databases was performed, citing Levesque et al. 2013.
• Included empirical studies focusing on healthcare access and applying the framework.
• Qualitative interviews were conducted with authors of identified studies.

Main Results:

• 31 studies applied Levesque's framework: 11 for tool development, 20 for data analysis.
• 147 unique questions on healthcare access were identified, focusing on dimensions and abilities.
• Interviews revealed positive researcher experiences, with minor challenges in categorization and representation.

Conclusions:

• Levesque's framework is a robust tool for assessing healthcare access across various settings.
• It enables comprehensive evaluation of access within health systems and populations.
• Future improvements could include integrating time-related aspects of access.