Appropriateness of medical care: conceptualization, measurement, and international initiative review

Appropriateness of medical care is a crucial dimension of medical quality. The most common conceptual definition is the provision of the right care for the right patient, the right setting, the right service provider, and the right time. Measurement methods include implicit, explicit, and combined criteria. International initiatives and practices of appropriateness in medical care can be divided into the concept construction period, the indicator establishment period, the waste reduction and low-value care reduction period, and the policy implementation period. This narrative review reports the conceptual definition, measurement methods, and international initiatives of appropriateness of medical care. Implications for future research and policy development are discussed.