Physician attitudes toward cost containment. The missing piece of the puzzle.
A survey of 720 physicians practicing in central and western Massachusetts was undertaken to examine their attitudes toward cost-containment measures. The majority of physicians felt that major techniques (58%), major procedures (57%), inappropriate ordering of diagnostic tests (48%), and malpractice concerns (47%) were very important contributors to increasing health care costs. Physician age, practice affiliation, and specialty area were related to the perceived importance of these factors. In addition, while there was a uniform lack of prior training in cost-containment measures, 48% of all physicians felt that courses in cost-containment techniques would be worthwhile. These results suggest a variety of concerns and issues that need to be considered when attempting to modify the cost-containment attitudes and practices of physicians.
Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester.
H L
HL
Greene
R J
RJ
Goldberg
H
H
Beattie
A R
AR
Russo
R C
RC
Ellison
J E
JE
Dalen
D000367:Age Factors; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003363:Cost Control; D003479:Curriculum; D003625:Data Collection; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D006300:Health Services Misuse; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008318:Malpractice / Q000191:economics; D008404:Massachusetts; D008511:Medicine; D010820:Physicians; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000191:economics; D013038:Specialization