The beliefs and values shaping today's health reform debate.
Survey results show that the American public comes to the health care reform debate with ambivalent feelings and a relatively low base of specific knowledge. But Americans also hold a set of core values that will shape their response to various proposals for national change. These include (1) a moral commitment to the uninsured; (2) a desire to achieve personal peace of mind; (3) a lack of self-blame; (4) a limited willingness to sacrifice; (5) reasoned self-interest in what changes are enacted; (6) a distrust of government; and (7) a healthy cynicism about the behavior of our major institutions.
Blendon
R J
RJ
Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston.
Marttila
J
J
Benson
J M
JM
Shelter
M C
MC
Connolly
F J
FJ
Kiley
T
T
D000328:Adult; D003363:Cost Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006291:Health Policy / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006292:Health Priorities / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D009310:National Health Insurance, United States / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011057:Politics; D011639:Public Opinion; D012945:Social Values; D014481:United States