Survey of knowledge about health care activity prices: do we know how much our decisions cost?

Abstract

Objective. To measure degree of knowledge about how much daily clinical practice cost in a pediatric clinical hospital.

Material and methods. Individual, anonymous and written surveys were carried out by pediatric physicians (FEAs), pediatric resident physicians (MIRes) and nurses (DUEs). All of them were workers in a pediatric department of a university hospital. Survey asked for price of different items used in daily practice: consultation/hospitalization, diagnostic laboratory test, imaging test, microbiological test, techniques, materials used for techniques and treatments. Responses were analyzed having in count reference values established in our hospital.

Results. We analyzed 97 surveys. Global price survey was overvalued by 5%, although the 56% of the respondents underestimated global price. Grouped into six groups of items, drugs and consultations/hospitalizations were underestimated, while the rest of the items were overestimated. Drugs price were underestimated by 10%, and all different forms of consultation/hospitalization by 25%. Other four groups were overestimated: blood test in 589%, material used for the techniques in 128%, microbiological test in 81% and imaging tests in 57%. In overall analysis of survey, comparisons of groups showed no statistically significant differences for total survey by gender and by group of age. However, statistically differences were found in type of professional we analyzed (ANOVA p=0,03). FEAs and MIRes underestimated the survey while DUEs overestimated it. 

Conclusions. There is great ignorance on economic value of healthcare costs. There is, as well, great variability in their appreciation among the staff who works in the public health system.