title: The beliefs and values shaping today's health reform debate.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Blendon
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marttila
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Shelter
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kiley
mesh_terms: 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