(216) Healthcare Cost Consciousness Among Physicians and Their Attitudes Towards Controlling Costs in Jordan: A Cross Sectional Study

Publication Number: 890

Background: Cost is one of the most important factors affecting doctors in prescribing practices. Health care costs play a major role in health economics. The rising cost of prescription drugs around the world raises increasing concerns for patients, prescribers, payers, and governments.

Objectives: The main aim of this research is to explore cost containment strategies applied by physicians in Jordan, paying attention to the role of cost consciousness in addressing health care costs, barriers and consequences.

Methods: A quantitative study was conducted between 19 June and 15 November 2021 through a cross-sectional survey using a self-administered questionnaire to explore the current situation regarding cost consciousness among physicians in Jordan. A previously validated questionnaire developed by Tilburt et al. was used in this study. Binary logistic regression was used to determine factors that are associated with being cost-conscious.

Results: A total of 389 physicians participated in this study. The most frequently mentioned bodies that have the main responsibility for reducing the cost of healthcare were the government (65.6%), health insurance companies (60.2%), and pharmaceutical and device manufacturers (57.9%), Participating physicians showed a high level of enthusiasm towards all domains of reducing healthcare costs with mean percentage of 88.3% (SD: 0.04). The most commonly agreed-upon items about physicians’ role in containing health care cost and consequences of cost-conscious practice were ‘there is currently too much emphasis on costs of tests and procedures’ (83.0%), ‘decision support tools that show costs would be helpful in my practice’ (84.5%), and ‘doctors need to take a more prominent role in limiting the use of unnecessary tests’ (86.0%). Barriers to and consequences of cost-conscious practice were assessed using two items 80.0% of physicians reported their agreement they found the uncertainty involved in patient care disconcerting, and around 70.0% reported their agreement they ordered more tests when they did not know the patient well. Physicians who were aged 31–35 years and had six to ten years of experience were more likely to be cost-conscious compared to others with (OR: 3.01(95% CI: 1.16–7.81)) and (OR: 3.00 (95% CI: 1.12–7.80)), respectively.

Conclusions: Participating physicians showed a moderate level of cost consciousness. The level of awareness among doctors must be increased by holding continuous conferences and educational seminars in the application of treatment to patients and the definition of the price of the medicines and their updates.