title: [Is there adequate care for patients with psychosomatic disorders in Austria? Analysis of the need and a proposal for a model of quality assurance in Austrian psychosomatic medicine].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Quality assurance in psychosomatic medicine in Austria is currently based on a voluntary continuing medical education programme in psychosocial, psychosomatic and psychotherapeutic medicine. It is questionable whether psychosomatic care can be sufficiently provided in this manner. In addition, a broadly based proposal to create a subspecialty in psychosomatic medicine in order to facilitate quality assurance, is investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The necessity to reorganize psychosomatic care was explored through semi-structured qualitative interviews with experts. Data-based analyses probed the labour market of the proposed subspecialty, and the literature was reviewed to look into the cost-benefit ratio of psychosomatic treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All experts expressed a need to restructure psychosomatic care in Austria. Examples exist for psychosomatic treatment with an efficient cost-benefit relation in diverse medical settings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Establishing a subspecialty in Psychosomatic Medicine seems feasible and could contribute to increased quality assurance and the nationwide provision of psychosomatic care.
authors.affiliation: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Anton Leitner, MSc, Donau-Universität Krems, Department für Psychotherapie und Biopsychosoziale Gesundheit, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, A-3500 Krems an der Donau, Österreich, E-Mail: anton.leitner@donau-uni.ac.at.
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leitner
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pieh
authors.forename: Franziska
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Matzer
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fazekas
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003479:Curriculum; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005858:Germany; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011611:Psychosomatic Medicine / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013038:Specialization