[Economy and management: what doctors think. A national survey].
BACKGROUND
As managerial issues are a crucial component of the recent health care reform (Dec Leg.vo 502/92), it is urgent to collect information on physicians' knowledge, attitudes and interests on management and economics. Aim of the national survey presented here is to make a contribution in this area.


METHODS
A survey based on 18 items questionnaires with closed-ended questions sent to 1,720 physicians (general practitioners, neurologists and psychiatrists).


RESULTS
Response rate was 42%. Only 13% of respondents stated that the Reform will not affect physicians' work. More than 50% of our sample thought that economic and management skills may contribute to the improvement of the NHS. Younger physicians and senior consultants are more aware of the role of management in their profession, while GPs tend to be sceptical.


CONCLUSIONS
Economic and management issues are no longer ignored by physicians. There is the opportunity to develop further training programs for physicians aimed at improving their managerial skills.
Fattore
G
G
CeRGAS (Centro Ricerche sulla Gestione dell'Assistenza Sanitaria) e SDA (Scuola di Direzione Aziendale), Università Commerciale L. Bocconi, Milano.
Tabacchi
M
M
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003625:Data Collection; D005194:Family Practice; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D009462:Neurology; D009934:Organization and Administration; D010820:Physicians; D011570:Psychiatry