Determining the Relative Weights of Health Care Compared to Other Quality of Life Components Using Fuzzy Pairwise Comparison (FPC) - Abstract
Background: Public health interventions aim to enhance overall Quality of Life (QOL) by improving access to health care services, promoting preventive health
behaviors, and reducing health inequalities within communities. QOL is a multidimensional construct shaped by several factors, including the availability and effectiveness
of health care services, food security, spiritual well-being, and community assets. Among these, health care has a particularly significant role, not only by reducing
morbidity and mortality but also by influencing other determinants of well-being. However, the relative contribution of health care to QOL compared to other key
dimensions has not been adequately quantified in previous studies.
Objective: This study aims to determine the relative weight of health care services in comparison to other major components affecting QOL and to provide evidence
based insights that may support public health policy design and resource allocation strategies.
Methods: Data were collected through a structured telephone survey conducted in 2023. Four main QOL dimensions were evaluated: Health Care, Food Security,
Spiritual Well-being, and Community Assets. The Fuzzy Pairwise Comparison (FPC) method was applied to measure the relative importance of each dimension based on
participants’ perceptions.
Results: The analysis revealed that Food Security carried the highest relative weight (30.32%), closely followed by Health Care (29.03%), while Spiritual Well
being contributed 26.57%, and Community Assets accounted for the smallest proportion (14.08%). These findings indicate that while food security remains slightly more
influential in determining QOL, access to health care is nearly equally critical.
Conclusions: This study highlights the central role of health care services in improving quality of life within communities. Policies that focus on expanding access to
primary care, strengthening preventive health programs, and reducing disparities in health services are likely to generate substantial improvements in overall well-being.
The findings also emphasize the need for integrated public health strategies that combine efforts to secure adequate nutrition, improve health systems, and enhance social
and spiritual well-being.