Variables that influence consumers' inferences about physician ability and accountability

M C Pontes; N M Pontes

Variables that influence consumers' inferences about physician ability and accountability

Health Care Manage Rev. 1997 Spring;22(2):7-20.

Authors

M C Pontes¹, N M Pontes

Affiliation

¹ Department of Marketing, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, New Jersey, USA.

PMID: 9143897

Abstract

Previous research has shown that the quality of interpersonal care provided by physicians is correlated with the initiation of malpractice litigation. Unfortunately, this research has not controlled for the effects of actual treatment quality or of health outcomes. The research on which this article is based experimentally manipulates three variables: (1) patient involvement with treatment decisions, (2) financial incentives by third party payers to encourage costeffective medicine, and (3) use of new treatment practices that have not been widely adopted by other physicians.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Clinical Competence / standards*
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Diffusion of Innovation
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Patient Participation
Patient Satisfaction*
Physician Incentive Plans
Physician-Patient Relations*
Quality of Health Care*
Treatment Outcome