The Concept of Access
1981/02/01 by Roy Penchansky, J William Thomas, James W. Thomas · 3,414 citations
Economics, Econometrics and Finance · Health Professions · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · #Accommodation #Computer science #Data access #Database #Discriminant validity #Health care #Healthcare Policy and Management #Knowledge management #Medicine #Nursing #Patient Satisfaction in Healthcare #Patient satisfaction #Political science #Primary Care and Health Outcomes #Psychology #Set (abstract data type)
paper · doi:10.1097/00005650-198102000-00001
published in Medical Care 19(2), 127-140 (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins)
openalex publication_date 1981/02/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Abstract
Access is an important concept in health policy and health services research, yet it is one which has not been defined or employed precisely. To some authors "access" refers to entry into or use of the health care system, while to others it characterizes factors influencing entry or use. The purpose of this article is to propose a taxonomic definition of "access." Access is presented here as a general concept that summarizes a set of more specific dimensions describing the fit between the patient and the health care system. The specific dimensions are availability, accessibility, accommodation, affordability and acceptability. Using interview data on patient satisfaction, the discriminant validity of these dimensions is investigated. Results provide strong support for the view that differentiation does exist among the five areas and that the measures do relate to the phenomena with which they are identified.
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