Cost-consciousness among Iranian internal medicine residents

Abstract

Background: Study aimed at assessing residents' cost awareness and their attitude about health care costs.

Methods: Internal medicine residents at teaching hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences were surveyed during August–December 2016 using a researcher-made questionnaire comprising attitude statements and cost estimation of diagnostic and treatment items.

Results: Eighty-nine residents completed the survey (response rate = 56.6%). The results indicate that less than one quarter (23.69%) of cost estimates were in the range of correct answers. The mean (SD) for correct estimation of medications (out of 8 scores), lab tests (out of 20 scores), and total (out of 35 scores) were 1.25 (0.96), 4.92 (0.27), and 7.97 (0.34), respectively. An analysis of variance showed that the level of residency was positively correlated with residents’ correct cost estimation (F (3, 77)=9.98, p = 0.029). There was a significant positive correlation between age of residents with the correct estimate of medication prices (p = 0.018, r = 0.261).

Conclusions: The internal medicine residents of Tehran University of Medical Sciences have poor knowledge of health care costs, including medications, diagnostic tests, and hospitalization costs. The results of this study explain the necessity of developing a training program for the transfer of cost information to physicians.

Keywords:

• Cost
• awareness
• attitude
• internal medicine
• residents

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the support from Tehran University of Medical Sciences where this program accomplished and supported. Many thanks to Dr. Soheil Peiman for his intellectual support.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nastaran Maghbouli

Nastaran Maghbouli, MD-MPH, contributed to the project as main executor. This project was her MD-MPH thesis. She is now clinical resident of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

Ali Akbari Sari

Ali Akbari Sari, MD-PHD, is currently an associate professor of health management and economics and the head of school of public health at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. He contributed to the project as supervisor professor.

Fariba Asghari

Fariba Asghari, MD, is currently an associate professor of occupational medicine and researcher at medical ethics and history of medicine research center of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. She contributed to the project as supervisor professor.