Measuring productivity in the healthcare sector : a bibliometric and content analysis

Background Productivity in the healthcare sector has evolved as an appealing research topic in the last few years. Despite the growing interest, the extant scientific literature mostly concentrates on methodologies rather than theoretical and practical insights. Although diverse methodologies provide valuable quantitative wisdom, their application is often misaligned with broader economic theories or healthcare purposes, limiting their contribution to advancing theoretical and practical understanding of efficiency and productivity in healthcare systems. In this respect, the current study endeavors to bridge the research gap concerning the lack of a comprehensive overview of productivity measurements in the healthcare sector. Methods We investigate this concern through a bibliometric and content analysis of articles published on healthcare productivity measurement techniques in the Web of Science database between 2003 and 2023. We provide a quantitative and critical analysis of conceptualization, methods, findings, and implications of the selected published articles concerning productivity measurements in the healthcare sector. Results Our research discovered that the sanitary crisis generated by COVID-19 boosted the publication of scientific papers on productivity measurements in healthcare, with Europe emerging as a leading region in publication output. Although Data Envelopment Analysis and the Malmquist Index monopolize the range of measurement techniques used to quantify productivity, current research highlights the requirement for alternative methodologies to grasp the multidimensionality of healthcare productivity, including its interaction with quality and technological progress. Conclusions We raise awareness that future efforts should prioritize multidimensional and context-sensitive approaches to measuring healthcare productivity, balancing efficiency, technological progress, and quality of care. Policymakers should focus on designing context-specific policies tailored to regional challenges and promoting targeted research funding to explore underrepresented areas of healthcare services.