Objective To enhance the level of population health as an evaluation guide, this study conducted an effectiveness evaluation survey on basic public health services from the perspectives of both supply and demand, providing references and guidance for the continuous improvement of national basic public health service programs.

Methods In August 2022, a multi-stage stratified sampling survey was carried out among 1 682 primary healthcare workers and 800 key service population in southern, central, and northern Jiangsu province to understand the provision of basic public health services by primary healthcare workers and their evaluation on the effects of these services on improving local residents′ health levels. Additionally, the utilization of basic public health services by residents and their satisfaction with the health improvements provided by these services were assessed.

Results A total of 1 408 valid questionnaires from primary healthcare workers and 791 valid ones from key service population were collected. Among the services provided, those with higher provision rates were: management of resident health records (73.0%), health education (70.0%), elderly health management (69.2%), hypertension patient health management (66.9%), and type 2 diabetes patient health management services (62.2%). There was a statistically significant difference in the provision rates of various services among primary healthcare workers of different positions (all P < 0.05). On a 0-10 point rating scale, primary healthcare workers rated all categories of basic public health services as more than 8 points in terms of meeting local residents′ actual needs and improving their health levels. The top six programs (in descending order of rating) were preventive vaccination, hypertension patient health management, elderly health management, type 2 diabetes patient health management, health management for children aged 0-6, and maternal health management; the bottom six (in ascending order) were traditional Chinese medicine health management, health and family planning regulatory co-management, management of patients with severe mental disorders, tuberculosis patient health management, resident health record management, and health education. Regarding the utilization of services by key populations, the highest rate was found among pregnant women at 93.8%, while service utilization was relatively lower among patients with chronic diseases and the elderly, with overall utilization rates of 84.8%, 77.1%, and 70.7% for patients with hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and the elderly, respectively. A total of 91.7% of the key service population were satisfied with the improvement of health levels by respective services, with relatively lower satisfaction rates among the elderly and type 2 diabetes patients at 89.0% and 88.6%, respectively.

Conclusion The basic public health service programs generally show good effects in improving population health levels. Based on the assessment by supply and demand sides, it is found that implementation forms and service models need continuous optimization according to residents' health needs, and the comprehensive prevention and treatment capability of primary healthcare workers also needs enhancement to further promote the high-quality development of basic public health services.