Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

What theories underpin performance-based financing? A scoping review

What theories underpin performance-based financing? A scoping review 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/approachThe 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.FindingsSixty-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 implicationsOverall, 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/valueThe 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. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Health Organisation and Management Emerald Publishing

What theories underpin performance-based financing? A scoping review

Download PDF
38 pages

Loading next page...
 
/lp/emerald-publishing/what-theories-underpin-performance-based-financing-a-scoping-review-3vqEfrbGLc
Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
© Emerald Publishing Limited
ISSN
1477-7266
DOI
10.1108/jhom-04-2020-0161
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

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/approachThe 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.FindingsSixty-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 implicationsOverall, 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/valueThe 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.

Journal

Journal of Health Organisation and Management – Emerald Publishing

Published: May 5, 2021

Keywords: Performance-based financing; Low- and middle-income countries; Theory; Scoping review

References

  • Improving health systems performance in low- and middle-income countries: a system dynamics model of the pay-for-performance initiative in Afghanistan
    Alonge, O.; Lin, S.; Igusa, T.; Peters, D.H.
  • Can performance-based incentives improve motivation of nurses and midwives in primary facilities in northern Ghana? A quasi-experimental study
    Aninanya, G.A.; Howard, N.; Williams, J.E.; Apam, B.; Prytherch, H.; Loukanova, S.; Kamara, E.K.; Otupiri, E.
  • Pay for performance: a reflection on how a global perspective could enhance policy and research
    Anselmi, L.; Borghi, J.; Brown, G.W.; Fichera, E.; Hanson, K.; Kadungure, A.; Kovacs, R.; Kristensen, S.R.; Singh, N.S.; Sutton, M.
  • Exploring implementation practices in results-based financing: the case of the verification in Benin
    Antony, M.; Bertone, M.P.; Barthes, O.
  • Scoping studies: towards a methodological framework
    Arksey, H.; O'malley, L.
  • Distortion and risk in optimal incentive contracts
    Baker, G.
  • Effect on maternal and child health services in Rwanda of payment to primary health-care providers for performance: an impact evaluation
    Basinga, P.; Gertler, P.J.; Binagwaho, A.; Soucat, A.L.; Sturdy, J.; Vermeersch, C.M.
  • Motivating health workers up to a limit: partial effects of performance-based financing on working environments in Nigeria
    Bhatnagar, A.; George, A.S.
  • Effect of paying for performance on utilisation, quality, and user costs of health services in Tanzania: a controlled before and after study
    Binyaruka, P.; Patouillard, E.; Powell-Jackson, T.; Greco, G.; Maestad, O.; Borghi, J.
  • Criteria for selecting implementation science theories and frameworks: results from an international survey
    Birken, S.A.; Powell, B.J.; Shea, C.M.; Haines, E.R.; Alexis Kirk, M.; Leeman, J.; Rohweder, C.; Damschroder, L.; Presseau, J.
  • A study on the implementation fidelity of the performance-based financing policy in Burkina Faso after 12 months
    Bodson, O.; Barro, A.; Turcotte-Tremblay, A.M.; Zante, N.; Some, P.A.; Ridde, V.
  • The effects of performance incentives on the utilization and quality of maternal and child care in Burundi
    Bonfrer, I.; Van De Poel, E.; Van Doorslaer, E.
  • In Tanzania, the many costs of pay-for-performance leave open to debate whether the strategy is cost-effective
    Borghi, J.; Little, R.; Binyaruka, P.; Patouillard, E.; Kuwawenaruwa, A.
  • Understanding for whom, why and in what circumstances payment for performance works in low and middle income countries: protocol for a realist review
    Borghi, J.; Singh, N.S.; Brown, G.; Anselmi, L.; Kristensen, S.
  • Theories of the policy process in health promotion research: a review
    Breton, E.; De Leeuw, E.
  • Annotated literature review: African actors, global health governance and performance-based funding
    Brown, G.W.; Barnes, A.; Harman, S.; Gruia, M.; Papamichail, A.
  • When incentives work too well: locally implemented pay for performance (P4P) and adverse sanctions towards home birth in Tanzania - a qualitative study
    Chimhutu, V.; Lindkvist, I.; Lange, S.
  • The inescapable question of fairness in Pay-for-performance bonus distribution: a qualitative study of health workers' experiences in Tanzania
    Chimhutu, V.; Songstad, N.G.; Tjomsland, M.; Mrisho, M.; MOLAND, K.M.
  • The theory of value-based payment incentives and their application to health care
    Conrad, D.A.
  • La nouvelle raison du monde - essai sur la société néolibérale
    Dardot, P.; Laval, C.
  • Effect of pay for performance to improve quality of maternal and child care in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review
    Das, A.; Gopalan, S.S.; Chandramohan, D.
  • Enhancing the scoping study methodology: a large, inter-professional team's experience with Arksey and O'Malley's framework
    Daudt, H.M.L.; Van Mossel, C.; Scott, S.J.
  • Unraveling PBF effects beyond impact evaluation: results from a qualitative study in Cameroon
    De Allegri, M.; Bertone, M.P.; Mcmahon, S.; Mounpe Chare, I.; Robyn, P.J.
  • Looking into the performance-based financing black box: evidence from an impact evaluation in the health sector in Cameroon
    De Walque, D.; Robyn, P.J.; Saidou, H.; Sorgho, G.; Steenland, M.
  • Interventions for vector-borne diseases focused on housing and hygiene in urban areas: a scoping review
    Degroote, S.; Zinszer, K.; Ridde, V.
  • Can Pay for performance, increase utilization by the poor and improve the quality of health services
    Eichler, R.
  • Effects of pay for performance in health care: a systematic review of systematic reviews
    Eijkenaar, F.; Emmert, M.; Scheppach, M.; Schöffski, O.
  • Performance-based payment: some reflections on the discourse, evidence and unanswered questions
    Eldridge, C.; Palmer, N.
  • Using behavioral economics to design physician incentives that deliver high-value care
    Emanuel, E.J.; Ubel, P.A.; Kessler, J.B.; Meyer, G.; Muller, R.W.; Navathe, A.S.; Patel, P.; Pearl, R.; Rosenthal, M.B.; Sacks, L.; Sen, A.P.; Sherman, P.; Volpp, K.G.
  • Effectiveness of a pay-for-performance intervention to improve maternal and child health services in Afghanistan: a cluster-randomized trial
    Engineer, C.Y.; Dale, E.; Agarwal, A.; Agarwal, A.; alonge, O.; Edward, A.; Gupta, S.; Schuh, H.B.; Burnham, G.; peters, D.H.
  • How do diffusion entrepreneurs spread policies? Insights from performance-based financing in Sub-Saharan Africa
    Gautier, L.; Tosun, J.; De Allegri, M.; Ridde, V.
  • From Amsterdam to Bamako: a qualitative case study on diffusion entrepreneurs' contribution to performance-based financing propagation in Mali
    Gautier, L.; Coulibaly, A.; De Allegri, M.; Ridde, V.
  • How is the discourse of performance-based financing shaped at the global level? A poststructural analysis
    Gautier, L.; De Allegri, M.; Ridde, V.
  • Promoting women's and children's health through community groups in low-income and middle-income countries: a mixed-methods systematic review of mechanisms, enablers and barriers
    Gram, L.; Fitchett, A.; Ashraf, A.; Daruwalla, N.; Osrin, D.
  • The promise of performance pay? Reasons for caution in policy prescriptions in the core civil service
    Hasnain, Z.; Manning, N.; Pierskalla, J.H.
  • Most people are not WEIRD
    Henrich, J.; Heine, S.J.; Norenzayan, A.
  • Multitask principal-agent analyses: incentive contracts, asset ownership, and job design
    Holmstrom, B.; Milgrom, P.
  • Is there a conceptual difference between theoretical and conceptual frameworks?
    Imenda, S.
  • Can performance-based financing be used to reform health systems in developing countries?
    Ireland, M.; Paul, E.; Dujardin, B.
  • The costs of performance-based financing
    Kalk, A.
  • ‘Paying for performance’ in Rwanda: does it pay off?
    Kalk, A.; Paul, F.A.; Grabosch, E.
  • Are health workers motivated by income? Job motivation of Cambodian primary health workers implementing performance-based financing
    Khim, K.
  • Harnessing the power of theorising in implementation science
    Kislov, R.; Pope, C.; Martin, G.P.; Wilson, P.M.
  • Pro-social preferences and self-selection into the public health sector: evidence from an economic experiment
    Kolstad, J.R.; Lindkvist, I.
  • How are pay-for-performance schemes in healthcare designed in low- and middle-income countries? Typology and systematic literature review
    Kovacs, R.J.; Powell-Jackson, T.; Kristensen, S.R.; Singh, N.; Borghi, J.
  • The theory of incentives
    Laffont, J.-J.; Martimort, D.
  • Improving health worker performance: the patient-perspective from a PBF program in Rwanda
    Lannes, L.
  • Can performance-based financing help reaching the poor with maternal and child health services? The experience of rural Rwanda
    Lannes, L.; Meessen, B.; Soucat, A.; Basinga, P.
  • Scoping studies: advancing the methodology
    Levac, D.; Colquhoun, H.; O'brien, K.K.
  • Theory as method: small theories of treatments
    Lipsey, M.W.
  • Incentives in health: different prescriptions for physicians and patients
    Loewenstein, G.; Volpp, K.G.; Asch, D.A.
  • Crowding out or no crowding out? A Self-Determination Theory approach to health worker motivation in performance-based financing
    Lohmann, J.; Houlfort, N.; De Allegri, M.
  • How does performance-based financing affect health workers' intrinsic motivation? A self-determination theory-based mixed-methods study in Malawi
    Lohmann, J.; Muula, A.S.; Houlfort, N.; De Allegri, M.
  • ‘The money can be a motivator, to me a little, but mostly PBF just helps me to do better in my job.' an exploration of the motivational mechanisms of performance-based financing for health workers in Malawi
    Lohmann, J.; Wilhelm, D.; Kambala, C.; Brenner, S.; Muula, A.S.; De Allegri, M.
  • Pathways to high and low performance: factors differentiating primary care facilities under performance-based financing in Nigeria
    Mabuchi, S.; Sesan, T.; Bennett, S.C.
  • Paying for performance and the social relations of health care provision: an anthropological perspective
    Magrath, P.; Nichter, M.
  • [The debate concerning performance-based financing in Africa South of the Sahara: analysis of the nature]
    Manitu, S.M.; Meessen, B.; Lushimba, M.M.; Macq, J.
  • Does training on performance based financing make a difference in performance and quality of health care delivery? Health care provider's perspective in Rungwe Tanzania
    Manongi, R.; Mushi, D.; Kessy, J.; Salome, S.; Njau, B.
  • The powers and pitfalls of payment for performance
    Maynard, A.
  • Evaluating complex health financing interventions: using mixed methods to inform further implementation of a novel PBI intervention in rural Malawi
    Mcmahon, S.A.; Brenner, S.; Lohmann, J.; Makwero, C.; Torbica, A.; Mathanga, D.P.; Muula, A.S.; De Allegri, M.
  • ‘I wanted a skeleton they brought a prince’: a qualitative investigation of factors mediating the implementation of a Performance Based Incentive program in Malawi
    Mcmahon, S.A.; Muula, A.S.; De Allegri, M.
  • Performance-based financing: just a donor fad or a catalyst towards comprehensive health-care reform?
    Meessen, B.; Soucat, A.; Sekabaraga, C.
  • Characterizing performance improvement in primary care systems in Mesoamerica: a realist evaluation protocol
    Munar, W.; Wahid, S.S.; Curry, L.
  • Measuring and understanding the effects of a performance based financing scheme applied to nutrition services in Burundi-a mixed method impact evaluation design
    Nimpagaritse, M.; Korachais, C.; Roberfroid, D.; Kolsteren, P.; Zine Eddine El Idrissi, M.D.; Meessen, B.
  • Pay for performance in Nigeria: the influence of context and implementation on results
    Ogundeji, Y.K.; Jackson, C.; Sheldon, T.; Olubajo, O.; Ihebuzor, N.
  • A reporting framework for describing and a typology for categorizing and analyzing the designs of health care pay for performance schemes
    Ogundeji, Y.K.; Sheldon, T.A.; Maynard, A.
  • Lessons from principal-agent theory for public expenditure management in Pacific island countries
    Paul, E.
  • Performance-based financing in the heath sector in low- and middle-income countries: is there anything whereof it may be said, see, this is new?
    Paul, E.; Renmans, D.
  • Local stakeholders' perceptions about the introduction of performance-based financing in Benin: a case study in two health districts
    Paul, E.; Sossouhounto, N.; Eclou, D.S.
  • Performance-based financing in low-income and middle-income countries: isn't it time for a rethink?
    Paul, E.; Albert, L.; Bisala, B.N.; Bodson, O.; Bonnet, E.; Bossyns, P.; Colombo, S.; De Brouwere, V.; Dumont, A.; Eclou, D.S.; Gyselinck, K.; Hane, F.; Marchal, B.; Meloni, R.; Noirhomme, M.; Noterman, J.P.; Ooms, G.; Samb, O.M.; Ssengooba, F.; Toure, L.; Turcotte-Tremblay, A.M.; Van Belle, S.; Vinard, P.; Ridde, V.
  • Performance-based financing to strengthen the health system in Benin: challenging the mainstream approach
    Paul, E.; Dramé, M.L.; Kashala, J.P.; Ndema, A.E.; Kounnou, M.; Aïssan, J.C.; Gyselinck, K.
  • The provision of incentives in firms
    Prendergast, C.
  • The effect of a performance-based financing program on HIV and maternal/child health services in Mozambique-an impact evaluation
    Rajkotia, Y.; Zang, O.; Nguimkeu, P.; Gergen, J.; Djurovic, I.; Vaz, P.; Mbofana, F.; Jobarteh, K.
  • Opening the ‘black box’ of performance-based financing in low- and lower middle-income countries: a review of the literature
    Renmans, D.; Holvoet, N.; Orach, C.G.; Criel, B.
  • Combining theory-driven evaluation and causal loop diagramming for opening the ‘black box’ of an intervention in the health sector: a case of performance-based financing in western Uganda
    Renmans, D.; Holvoet, N.; Criel, B.
  • Performance-based financing: the same is different
    Renmans, D.; Holvoet, N.; Criel, B.; Meessen, B.
  • Building trust or buying results?
    Ridde, V.
  • Protocol for the process evaluation of interventions combining performance-based financing with health equity in Burkina Faso
    Ridde, V.; Turcotte-Tremblay, A.M.; Souares, A.; Lohmann, J.; Zombre, D.; Koulidiati, J.L.; Yaogo, M.; Hien, H.; Hunt, M.; Zongo, S.; De Allegri, M.
  • Performance-based financing in africa: time to test measures for equity
    Ridde, V.; Gautier, L.; Turcotte-Tremblay, A.M.; Sieleunou, I.; Paul, E.
  • Using implementation science theories and frameworks in global health
    Ridde, V.; Pérez, D.; Robert, E.
  • P4P: rumors of its demise may be exaggerated
    Rosenthal, M.B.
  • Implementing the third generation research paradigm in policy implementation research: an empirical assessment
    Saetren, H.
  • Pay for performance (P4P) programs in health services: what is the evidence?
    Scheffler, R.
  • Performance-based incentives may be appropriate to address challenges to delivery of prevention of vertical transmission of HIV services in rural Mozambique: a qualitative investigation
    Schuster, R.C.; De Sousa, O.; Rivera, J.; Olson, R.; Pinault, D.; Young, S.L.
  • Performance-based financing empowers health workers delivering prevention of vertical transmission of HIV services and decreases desire to leave in Mozambique
    Schuster, R.C.; De Sousa, O.; Reme, A.K.; Vopelak, C.; Pelletier, D.L.; Johnson, L.M.; Mbuya, M.; Pinault, D.; Young, S.L.
  • Systematic review of the use of process evaluations in knowledge translation research
    Scott, S.D.; Rotter, T.; Flynn, R.; Brooks, H.M.; Plesuk, T.; Bannar-Martin, K.H.; Chambers, T.; Hartling, L.
  • Performance-based contracting: a literature review and future research directions
    Selviaridis, K.; Wynstra, F.
  • Incentives to change: effects of performance-based financing on health workers in Zambia
    Shen, G.C.; Nguyen, H.T.; Das, A.; Sachingongu, N.; Chansa, C.; Qamruddin, J.; Friedman, J.
  • The effect of performance-based financing on illness, care-seeking and treatment among children: an impact evaluation in Rwanda
    Skiles, M.P.; Curtis, S.L.; Basinga, P.; Angeles, G.; Thirumurthy, H.
  • Results-based financing in Mozambique's central medical store: a review after 1 year
    Spisak, C.; Morgan, L.; Eichler, R.; Rosen, J.; Serumaga, B.; wang, A.
  • Why performance-based contracting failed in Uganda - an ‘open-box’ evaluation of a complex health system intervention
    Ssengooba, F.; Mcpake, B.; Palmer, N.
  • Performance-based financing for improving HIV/AIDS service delivery: a systematic review
    Suthar, A.B.; Nagata, J.M.; Nsanzimana, S.; Barnighausen, T.; Negussie, E.K.; Doherty, M.C.
  • PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR): checklist and explanation
    Tricco, A.C.; Lillie, E.; Zarin, W.; O'brien, K.K.; Colquhoun, H.; Levac, D.; Moher, D.; Peters, M.D.J.; Horsley, T.; Weeks, L.; Hempel, S.; Akl, E.A.; Chang, C.; Mcgowan, J.; Stewart, L.; Hartling, L.; Aldcroft, A.; Wilson, M.G.; Garritty, C.; Lewin, S.; Godfrey, C.M.; Macdonald, M.T.; Langlois, E.V.; Soares-Weiser, K.; Moriarty, J.; Clifford, T.; Tuncalp, O.; Straus, S.E.
  • Does performance-based financing increase value for money in low- and middle- income countries? A systematic review
    Turcotte-Tremblay, A.M.; Spagnolo, J.; De Allegri, M.; Ridde, V.
  • The unintended consequences of community verifications for performance-based financing in Burkina Faso
    Turcotte-Tremblay, A.M.; Gali-Gali, I.A.; De Allegri, M.; Ridde, V.
  • An exploration of the unintended consequences of performance-based financing in 6 primary healthcare facilities in Burkina Faso
    Turcotte-Tremblay, A.-M.; Gali Gali, I.A.; Ridde, V.
  • Complexity theory: an overview with potential applications for the social sciences
    Turner, J.R.; Baker, R.M.
  • Doing' health policy analysis: methodological and conceptual reflections and challenges
    Walt, G.; Shiffman, J.; Schneider, H.; Murray, S.F.; Brugha, R.; Gilson, L.
  • Cost-effectiveness of results-based financing, Zambia: a cluster randomized trial
    Zeng, W.; Shepard, D.S.; Nguyen, H.; Chansa, C.; Das, A.K.; Qamruddin, J.; Friedman, J.