Cost awareness of radiological studies among doctors at Universitas Academic Hospital in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

accuracy cost awareness estimation imaging radiological studies

Journal

SA journal of radiology
ISSN: 1027-202X
Titre abrégé: SA J Radiol
Pays: South Africa
ID NLM: 101305775

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
2021
Historique:
received: 12 05 2021
accepted: 19 07 2021
entrez: 25 10 2021
pubmed: 26 10 2021
medline: 26 10 2021
Statut: epublish

Résumé

South Africa has high healthcare expenses. Improving cost-consciousness could decrease government expenditure on healthcare. To determine cost awareness of radiological studies among doctors at a tertiary hospital. The objective was met by assessing the accuracy of cost estimation according to the level of training and speciality, whether participants had received prior education/training related to cost awareness and if they had a desire to learn more about the cost of radiological imaging. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in six clinical departments at Universitas Academic Hospital using an anonymous questionnaire that determined doctors' cost awareness of five radiological studies. Each radiological study was answered using six different cost ranges, with one correct option. Costs were based on the Department of Health's 2019 Uniform Patients Fee Schedule (UPFS). In total, 131 (67.2%) of 195 questionnaires distributed to registrars and consultants were returned. Overall, low accuracy of cost estimation was observed, with 45.2% of the participants choosing only incorrect options. No participant estimated all five costs correctly. Only the Internal Medicine clinicians demonstrated a significant difference between registrars and consultants for the number of correct answers (median 0 and 1, respectively) ( Doctors were consistently inaccurate in estimating the cost of radiological studies. Educating doctors about the cost of radiological imaging could have a positive effect on healthcare expenditure.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
South Africa has high healthcare expenses. Improving cost-consciousness could decrease government expenditure on healthcare.
OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVE
To determine cost awareness of radiological studies among doctors at a tertiary hospital. The objective was met by assessing the accuracy of cost estimation according to the level of training and speciality, whether participants had received prior education/training related to cost awareness and if they had a desire to learn more about the cost of radiological imaging.
METHOD METHODS
A cross-sectional survey was conducted in six clinical departments at Universitas Academic Hospital using an anonymous questionnaire that determined doctors' cost awareness of five radiological studies. Each radiological study was answered using six different cost ranges, with one correct option. Costs were based on the Department of Health's 2019 Uniform Patients Fee Schedule (UPFS).
RESULTS RESULTS
In total, 131 (67.2%) of 195 questionnaires distributed to registrars and consultants were returned. Overall, low accuracy of cost estimation was observed, with 45.2% of the participants choosing only incorrect options. No participant estimated all five costs correctly. Only the Internal Medicine clinicians demonstrated a significant difference between registrars and consultants for the number of correct answers (median 0 and 1, respectively) (
CONCLUSION CONCLUSIONS
Doctors were consistently inaccurate in estimating the cost of radiological studies. Educating doctors about the cost of radiological imaging could have a positive effect on healthcare expenditure.

Identifiants

pubmed: 34691773
doi: 10.4102/sajr.v25i1.2188
pii: SAJR-25-2188
pmc: PMC8517821
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Pagination

2188

Informations de copyright

© 2021. The Authors.

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Auteurs

Khanyisa N Mrwetyana (KN)

Department of Clinical Imaging Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Jacques Janse van Rensburg (JJ)

Department of Clinical Imaging Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Gina Joubert (G)

Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Classifications MeSH