title: The role of education in improving physicians' professional use of economic evaluations of health interventions: some evidence from a cross-sectional survey in Italy.
abstract: A cross-sectional survey was carried out on a random sample of Italian physicians through a self-administered questionnaire to describe knowledge, attitudes, and professional behavior toward economic evaluations of health interventions. A response rate of 74.1% was achieved (760 questionnaires). Although many physicians show a positive attitude toward cost-minimization and, to a lesser extent, to cost-effectiveness analysis, they rated their methodological knowledge as unsatisfactory, and the professional use of the economic evaluations of the health interventions in clinical practice is quite low. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that adequate knowledge and positive attitudes are associated with increased physicians' use of health economic evaluations, as well as time dedicated to continuing medical education and previous training experience about health economics and management. Education and specific training may play an important role in promoting a more cost-conscious behavior of physicians.
authors.affiliation: "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Vito
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carmelo Nobile
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Furnari
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pavia
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Giusti
authors.forename: Italo Francesco
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Angelillo
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Villari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000379:methods; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics*; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians