“I wanted a skeleton … they brought a prince”

A qualitative investigation of factors mediating the implementation of a Performance Based Incentive program in Malawi

Dados Bibliográficos

ID17827147
AutoresShannon A Mcmahon (0000-0002-8634-9283, Heidelberg University, autor correspondente), Adamson S Muula (0000-0003-4412-9773, University of Malawi), Manuela De Allegri (0000-0002-8677-1337, Heidelberg University)
Ano2018
Volume5
Páginas64-72
Data de publicação2018-04-23
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoSSM - Population Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 2352-8273 • E-ISSN: 2352-8273
EditoraElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.ssmph.2018.04.006
PMID30023425
OpenAlexW2801249994
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas4
Referências citadas36

While several evaluations have examined the extent to which performance based financing (PBF) programs induce changes in the quantity and quality of health services provided, less is known about the process of implementing PBF. We conducted a process evaluation of a PBF intervention in Malawi that focused on understanding moderators of program implementation. Informed by a seminal theory of implementation, we first created a timeline and taxonomy of key events in the program lifeline and then undertook 25 in-depth interviews with stakeholders including implementers, central-level ministry officials and district-level health staff. While seven "moderator categories" emerged in this study, two categories (program complexity and quality of delivery) proved especially crucial in terms of moderating implementation and sparking adaptations. Complexity refers primarily to the manner in which PBF requires that those implementing the program have business acumen and forecasting skills, which are often beyond the purview of a clinician's training and thus proved challenging. Regarding quality of delivery, the program struggled to issue rewards in a timely and adequate manner, which proved highly problematic as it undermined a bedrock feature of PBF. Adaptations and adaptability refers here to a program's ability to make changes; the program proved rigid in several respects although nimble in terms of adjusting the verification process (upon noticing revengeful behaviors in peer verification). This PBF program is unique in several respects and findings cannot be generalized to all PBF programs. Nevertheless, process evaluations that draw from or expand upon existing implementation theories can allow researchers to better disentangle complex programming. We hope that more process evaluations, which track both core elements and necessary adaptations of PBF implementation, can further advance understandings of why PBF implementation functions or fails within a given setting, thereby enhancing implementers' abilities to replicate facilitators and bypass barriers

Economics · Incentive · Incentive program · Microeconomics · Operations management · Programming language · Computer Science · Global Maternal and Child Health · Healthcare Policy and Management · Primary Care and Health Outcomes