[Evaluation of the efficiency of primary care centers. Application of data analysis].

Background: One of the major difficulties in evaluating the efficiency of Primary Medical Centres is that of integrating quantitative and qualitative data.
Methods: This study applies the Involved Data Analysis (DEA) for the purpose of evaluating the efficiency of Primary Medial Centres located in the Province of Zaragoza (Spain). DEA is a lineal programming technique that provides information on the relative efficiency of each unit, as compared to all other units. Output such as doctors and nursing services as well as variables relating to the quality of service, and input (personnel and pharmaceutical expenses) referring to 1994, were obtained from Area Management.
Results: Without taking qualitative variables into account, only 13 Primary Medical Centres reached maximum efficiency level 1. with a range of 0.53 to 1. Taking quality variables into account, 24 units reached optimum efficiency, with a range of 0.61 to 1.
Conclusions: DEA is a useful tool for both qualitative and quantitative overall evaluation of input and output and identifies units that are inefficient as compared to others. Despite the difficulties involved, the method appears to be beneficial for management as a complementary aid to currently used techniques.