Exchanging healthcare information Networking for healthy business

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An examination of the levels of confidence that consultants have in routinely collected clinical information

Anecdotal evidence suggests that consultants have a low level of confidence in routinely collected clinical data. The aims of this study were to assess the actual levels of confidence in clinical information experienced by consultants and to understand the factors affecting confidence. A questionnaire was devised incorporating a scale to measure levels of confidence. This was disseminated to 506 consultants and achieved a 57 per cent response rate. The confidence scale showed good internal reliability and the influential factors were modelled using multilinear regression. Consultant specialty, increased involvement in clinical coding, and participation in service planning/monitoring all had a significant effect. A small number of semi-structured interviews further examined these factors. Whilst the findings confirm there is scope to increase levels of confidence, the mean score indicated neither a high nor a low level of confidence. The results demonstrate that improving consultants’ confidence in information is complex and requires a partnership approach

Market structure of the construction industry in Hong Kong

This study examines the market structure of four different sectors within the construction industry in Hong Kong. Market concentrations, expressed in terms of Herfindahl-Hershamann indices (HHIs) and number equivalents (HNEs), are calibrated for the top five contractors and compared with those of the local property industry. The study reveals the following ascending order of market concentrations: private building, public building, property development, and civil engineering. Our explanation is that technological and capital requirements have imposed a strong barrier to entry into the civil engineering sector, resulting in a concentrated market. Conversely, the lack of technological demand and supply in the private building sector has led to easy market entry and exit. Building contractors thus compete intensely on cost reduction rather than technology improvement, leading to poor construction safety and product quality. The paper concludes that the Government, being a major client of construction works and regulator of the industry, can assume a more active role in promoting the overall competitiveness of indigenous local contractors in Hong Kong.Construction Market Structure Herfindahl-HERSHAMANN Indices Hong Kong,