[Incentivising personal responsibility: conceptual clarification and evidence].
Two meanings of personal responsibility are distinguished, and different policy options for promoting health and responsibility are presented. Key insights from research seeking to promote personal responsibility through health information and incentives are outlined and discussed with regard to their potential to improve health and reduce cost. Data is presented on the socioeconomic characteristics of incentive programme users. It is concluded that due to different factors the availability of data regarding the effectiveness of incentive programmes is unsatisfactory. Evaluation requirements set out in the German Social Security Code (SGB V) should focus not only on cost, but should also extend to changes in health status and the socioeconomic status of users: provisions should be revised accordingly.
Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics, Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6021, USA. schmidth@mail.med.upenn.edu
Harald
H
Schmidt
D017046:Cost Savings / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics*; D005858:Germany; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000941:ethics*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics*; D012941:Social Responsibility; D012943:Social Security / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics