title: [Attitudes towards age-related rationing of medical supply: results of a cross-national analysis in Germany and Austria].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Expenditure on health-care is increasing over the last years and the demographic shift leads to more elderly patients in the health-care system. Debates about the financial situation and solution about this topic are common. Direct, as well as hidden, rationing is verified by experts. This article discusses the concept of age-dependent prioritization and rationing of health-care expenditures in a cross-national setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  With a standardised questionnaire geriatric physicians in Germany and Austria were asked about their attitude and experience with health-care expenditures in elderly patients. Dimension of medical staff, organising institution and financial resources were also evaluated. The sample was tested with t-test, Mann-Whitney-U-test and explorative factor analysis. All the data were calculated with PASW 17 Statistics(®).
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 419 standardised questionnaires 288 forms (60%, Germany: 123, Austria: 165) were evaluated. Differences were shown in patient-age (Germany: 80.4 y, Austria: 71.8 y), carrying capacity (Germany: 74.8, Austria: 110.8) and in medical staff as physicians (Germany: 6.8, Austria: 12.7) and nursing (Germany: 32.2, Austria: 84.3). In infrastructural basic services and normative focusing there was only marginal discrepancy, the public/ecclesiastical organising institution was 71% in both countries. Related to the different financial systems, there was less cost pressure in taking care of elderly patients in Austria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age-dependent rationing was approved, but there was also a clear endorsement for making resources available for elderly patients in future. The discussion about rationing of health-care expenditures will still go on and therefore the impact of ageism has to be evaluated in further studies.
authors: Wiso-Fakultät, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nürnberg, Germany.
authors: Adelheid Susanne
authors: AS
authors: Esslinger
authors: Florian
authors: F
authors: Meier
authors: Regina E
authors: RE
authors: Roller-Wirnsberger
authors: Hans Jürgen
authors: HJ
authors: Heppner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001317:Austria; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D005858:Germany; D015276:Health Care Rationing / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000639:trends*; D006292:Health Priorities / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011287:Prejudice; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires