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Biomedical subjects

E C Weeks

Publications and source records attributed to E C Weeks.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Determinants of physician acceptance of assignment: an examination of Medicare beneficiary characteristics.

This study examines the degree to which patient characteristics predict physicians' ad hoc decisions regarding acceptance of Medicare assignment. The study is based on a random sample of Medicare Part B enrollees living independently in the Salem, Oregon metropolitan area. Beneficiary characteristics and beneficiary reports of physician behavior are obtained from an hour long face-to-face survey. The findings show that patient characteristics are significant predictors of physician behavior. Those respondents with poor health, no supplementary coverage to Medicare Part B, and who are more sensitive to the cost of health care are significantly more likely to report that their physician accepts assignment than are respondents without these characteristics. Policy and research implications are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Does the dissemination of comparative data on physician fees affect consumer use of services?

The purpose of this study is to empirically examine the effect of disseminating physician-fee information on consumer behavior. Using an experimental design, the effect of access to physician-fee information on rates of doctor-office visits, expenditures for ambulatory care, and costs per visit are examined. The study includes two research samples: a random sample of 658 state government employees and a random sample of 717 Medicare Part B enrollees. Respondents in each sample were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups, with members of the experimental groups receiving a directory listing the fees charged by local physicians for common procedures. Longitudinal archival and survey data are used in the analysis. Findings reveal that the dissemination of fee data does not yield significant reductions in utilization or expenditures. Policy and research implications are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

The dissemination of physician fee information: impact on consumer knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.

This study examines the effect of disseminating physician fee information to consumers among two study populations; a Medicare enrolled population and a younger employed population. Using an experimental design, the effect of providing physician fee information on consumer knowledge, attitudes and behaviors is examined. The total sample size is 1,715 and includes 907 State employees and 801 Medicare enrollees. The findings suggest that the distribution of physician fee information may be a minor stimulant to consumerism in health care. The findings also suggest that the strength of the effect of fee information on consumer knowledge, attitudes and behaviors varies by population characteristics and the need for services.

Community Participation↗
PubMed1987

Consumerism in health care. Prevalence and predictors.

Current efforts to contain health care costs include a variety of strategies aimed at the users of health services. These approaches attempt to encourage users to be more cost-conscious and to shop for lower-cost services and more efficient health care plans. The primary method for achieving this is by increasing the consumer's exposure to the cost of health insurance and the cost of care. The assumption is that approaches that increase cost-sensitivity will stimulate greater consumerism among the users of care. This paper presents findings from a study that investigates the extent to which members of insured populations have a consumer approach to health care, identifies factors related to consumer behaviors and attributes, and examines the degree to which consumer cost-sensitivity is associated with other consumer-oriented behaviors. The data used are derived from face-to-face interviews. Only a minority of the respondents engage in the examined consumer behaviors. Both social demographic and attitudinal factors affect the likelihood of engaging in consumer behaviors. Being cost-sensitive appears to be only a minor stimulant to other consumer attributes. Policy implications are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The presentations and management of transposed teeth.

Tooth transposition is an uncommon dental anomaly that nevertheless has important implications regarding treatment. This article describes six types of transposition, discussing the problems and possible solutions. It is important to ensure that the results of any treatments for transposition are both aesthetic and functional.

Child↗