Experts’ perceptions of the concept of induced demand in healthcare: A qualitative study in Isfahan, Iran

CONTEXT: One of the most important subjects in health economics and healthcare management is the theory of induced demand. There are different views about the concept of induced demand. Extensive texts have been presented on induced demand, however a compatible concept has not necessarily been provided for this phenomenon and it has not been defined explicitly. AIMS: The main aim of this article is to understand the concept of induced demand with the use of experts’ perceptions of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The research was done using a qualitative method. Semi-structured interview was used for data generation. Participants in this study were people who had been informed in this regard and had to be experienced and were known as experts. Purposive sampling was done for data saturation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventeen people were interviewed and criteria such as “reliability of information” and “stability” of the data were considered. The anonymity of the interviewees was preserved. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The data are transcribed, categorized and then the thematic analysis was used. RESULTS: In this study, 21 sub-categories and three main categories were derived. Three main subjects were included: Induced demand definition, induced demand elements, and induced demand methods. Each of these issues contained some sub-subjects. CONCLUSION: The result of this study provides a framework for examining the concept of induced demand. The most notable findings include the definition of induced demand, induced demand elements, and method of induced demand. In induced demand definition, an important issue that is often overlooked is that inducing regarding to the effectiveness of clinical services and medical values can lead to better or worse outcomes for patients. These findings help the health policy makers study the phenomenon of induced demand with clear-sighted approach.