Abstract:

The objective of this study is to determine the factors affecting the level of cash-based health spending in the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries and classify countries according to these variables. The 2015 data from 36 OECD member countries form the universe of research. According to the study, the percentage of health expenditure in the country’s total health expenditure and the percentage of non-profit domestic income per person, the percentage of the population under health insurance, the percentage of the population living in rural areas, the percentage of 0-14 years old and 65 years old and older, the percentage of the population with a minimum of university graduates, the percentage of deaths caused by heart disease, cancer, diabetes or respiratory diseases, the percentage of the population misunderstood health status, the percentage of health expenditure in the domestic public expenditure and the number of labour. The decision tree model was established through the Orange data mining program using the CART algorithm. The analysis found that the most important factor affecting the health expenditure from the wallet was the percentage of health expenditure within public expenditure and other factors were the percentage of the population living in the rural area, the percentage of the population aged 65 and above, the percentage of the population with at least university graduates and the number of workforce, and the established decision tree model found that the countries were gathered in 9 classes. The findings from the study are expected to provide health politicians and planners with important evidence-based information in their decisions on determining the level of health expenditure.