[Knowledge of medical doctors about health economics].
OBJECTIVE
To identify the level of knowledge about health economics of physicians with different academic degree, working place and medical activities.


METHODS
A questionnaire with 24 items about commonly used health economics concepts was applied. Face validity, content, construct, and consistency of the questionnaire were assessed. 523 Mexican physicians from public and private health institutions in Sinaloa and Distrito Federal were interviewed.


RESULTS
The average general score was 4.1 +/- 2.1 (0 to 10 scale), for physicians at the IMSS was 4.1 +/- 2.1, SSA 4.3 +/- 2.5, ISSSTE 3.3 +/- 2; SEDENA 3.9 +/- 2.3 and in private medical services 4.4 +/- 2.2 (p = 0.001). Interns scored 3.7 +/- 2.1; physicians with specialties different from family medicine 4.3 +/- 2.2 and family physicians 4 +/- 2 (p = 0.05). The question that got the most correct answers was the definition of direct costs (82%) and the one with fewest was the percentage of the gross national product recommended by the World Health Organization for the health sector (11%).


CONCLUSIONS
Interviewed physicians had poor knowledge about health economics. Academic degree and institutional work were factors related to that knowledge.
Rodríguez-Ledesma
María de Los Angeles
Mde L
Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos, Hospital Regional de Zona 3, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico.
Constantino-Casas
Patricia
P
García-Contreras
Fernando
F
Garduño-Espinosa
Juan
J
D004467:Economics; D004501:Education, Medical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010820:Physicians; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires