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Journals / Hacettepe Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 44 Sayı: 2

Investigation of the Determinants of Health Service Utilization Applying an Artificial Neural Network Approach

Yapay Sinir Ağı Yaklaşımıyla Sağlık Hizmeti Kullanımı Belirleyicilerinin İncelenmesi

İsmail Biçer(PAMUKKALE ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0003-1878-0546
Pages
266–288
Publication Date
2026-06-30
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The findings indicate that in the utilization of primary health care services, physicians, nurses, and the population aged 65 and over are determinants, whereas in the utilization of secondary and tertiary health care services, physicians, nurses, and the rural population ratio are determinants.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:The utilization of healthcare services has increased significantly over the years.
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Key Findings & Data:Within this scope, the study utilizes a total of 972 observation units, comprising 81 provinces in Türkiye and 12 years of data for each province.
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Conclusion & Impact:The findings indicate that in the utilization of primary health care services, physicians, nurses, and the population aged 65 and over are determinants, whereas in the utilization of secondary and tertiary health care services, physicians, nurses, and the rural population ratio are determinants.
🔬Design:Modeling & Simulation
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Sağlık Hizmetleri · Sağlık Hizmetinin Kullanımı · Yapay Sinir Ağı

Abstract

The utilization of healthcare services has increased significantly over the years. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the socioeconomic, demographic, and structural factors affecting the use of primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare services using an artificial neural network (ANN) model. Within this scope, the study utilizes a total of 972 observation units, comprising 81 provinces in Türkiye and 12 years of data for each province. Two different models were established in the study. In the first model, the number of primary care visits was defined as the dependent variable, while in the second model, the total number of secondary and tertiary care visits was defined as the dependent variable. The independent variables were determined as the rural population ratio, the proportion of the population aged 65 and over, the number of physicians, nurses, and midwives, per capita income, and average years of education. The findings indicate that in the utilization of primary health care services, physicians, nurses, and the population aged 65 and over are determinants, whereas in the utilization of secondary and tertiary health care services, physicians, nurses, and the rural population ratio are determinants. As a result, it is recommended that in health service planning, the number of physicians and nurses be increased and the needs of the elderly and rural populations be prioritized.

Özet

Sağlık hizmetleri kullanımı yıllar içinde önemli ölçüde artmaktadır. Bu sebeple çalışmada, birinci, ikinci ve üçüncü basamak sağlık hizmeti kullanımını etkileyen sosyoekonomik, demografik ve yapısal faktörlerin yapay sinir ağı (YSA) modeliyle analiz edilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bu kapsamda çalışmada Türkiye’de bulunan 81 il ve illere ait 12 yıllık veri olmak üzere toplamda 972 gözlem biriminden yararlanılmıştır. Çalışmada iki farklı model kurulmuştur. Birinci modelde birinci basamak başvuru sayısı, ikinci modelde ise ikinci ve üçüncü basamak başvuru sayılarının toplamı bağımlı değişkenler; kırsal nüfus oranı, 65 yaş üstü nüfus oranı, hekim, hemşire ve ebe sayısı, kişi başına gelir ve ortalama eğitim süresi ise bağımsız değişkenler olarak belirlenmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular, birinci basamak sağlık hizmeti kullanımında hekim, hemşire ve 65 yaş üstü nüfusun; ikinci ve üçüncü basamak sağlık hizmeti kullanımında ise hekim, hemşire ve kırsal nüfus oranının belirleyici olduğunu göstermektedir. Sonuç olarak, sağlık hizmeti planlamasında hekim ve hemşire sayısının artırılması ile yaşlı ve kırsal nüfusun ihtiyaçlarının önceliklendirilmesi önerilmektedir.

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Cite This Article

Biçer, İ. (2026). Investigation of the Determinants of Health Service Utilization Applying an Artificial Neural Network Approach. Hacettepe Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi, Cilt: 44 Sayı: 2, 266–288. https://doi.org/10.17065/huniibf.1731819

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