What theories underpin performance-based financing? A scoping review
Journal of Health Organization and Management
ISSN: 1477-7266
Article publication date: 20 January 2021
Issue publication date: 5 May 2021
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to explore the theoretical bases justifying the use of performance-based financing (PBF) in the health sector in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted a scoping review of the literature on PBF so as to identify the theories utilized to underpin it and analyzed its theoretical justifications.
Findings
Sixty-four studies met the inclusion criteria. Economic theories were predominant, with the principal-agent theory being the most commonly-used theory, explicitly referred to by two-thirds of included studies. Psychological theories were also common, with a wide array of motivation theories. Other disciplines in the form of management or organizational science, political and social science and systems approaches also contributed. However, some of the theories referred to contradicted each other. Many of the studies included only casually alluded to one or more theories, and very few used these theories to justify or support PBF. No theory emerged as a dominant, consistent and credible justification of PBF, perhaps except for the principal-agent theory, which was often inappropriately applied in the included studies, and when it included additional assumptions reflecting the contexts of the health sector in LMICs, might actually warn against adopting PBF.
Practical implications
Overall, this review has not been able to identify a comprehensive, credible, consistent, theoretical justification for using PBF rather than alternative approaches to health system reforms and healthcare providers' motivation in LMICs.
Originality/value
The theoretical justifications of PBF in the health sector in LMICs are under-documented. This review is the first of this kind and should encourage further debate and theoretical exploration of the justifications of PBF.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Bruno Boidin, Lara Gautier, Sarah Louart and Bruno Ventelou for their feedback on a previous version of this article. Funding: EP's and OB's contribution was supported by the ARC grant for Concerted Research Actions, financed by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.
Citation
Paul, E., Bodson, O. and Ridde, V. (2021), "What theories underpin performance-based financing? A scoping review", Journal of Health Organization and Management, Vol. 35 No. 3, pp. 344-381. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHOM-04-2020-0161
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited