[Costs and fees in health care. Evaluation and assessment by cardiological patients].
METHODS
In a pilot study 70 patients treated in the Department of Cardiology were asked to asses the cost of coronary angiography, PTCA, heart transplantation, pacemakers and prosthetic heart valves. Salaries of physicians and nurses should be estimated, and causes of increase of costs in health care be defined.


RESULTS
91.7% patients criticized health care as too expensive but reasonable with regard to output and efficacy. As most important reasons for increase of cost were given "expensive drugs" (70.6%), "great number of drugs" (56.9%) and "increased number of old patients" (56.9%). Costs of coronary angiography were overestimated (twice) and those of PTCA were underestimated (half). Two thirds of the patients guessed the price of pacemakers and prosthetic heart valves much to low. Salaries of physicians had been estimated near the upper reference value, those of nurses near the lower reference value.


CONCLUSIONS
Most of our patients were insufficiently informed about costs in health care. Clarification and more transparency are needed.
Jäger
D
D
Abteilung für Kardiologie und Angiologie, Bergmannsheil, Universitätsklinik, Bochum.
Baberg
H
H
Kugler
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005251:Fees, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
Kosten und Preise im Geundheitswesen. Beurteilung und Bewertung durch kardiologische Patienten.