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Table 2 Descriptive statistics of the items of the cost-consciousness scale of 1184 doctors in Geneva, Switzerland, 1998.

From: Cost-consciousness among Swiss doctors: a cross-sectional survey

 

Percent responding

 

Item

Missing

Totally disagree

Disagree

Not sure

Agree

Totally agree

Mean (SD)

Trying to contain costs is the responsibility of every doctor.

0.6

1.5

2.7

5.8

45.8

44.2

4.3 (0.8)

There is currently too much emphasis on costs of tests and procedures. a

1.4

5.2

18.4

15.8

42.2

18.3

2.5 (1.1)

Doctors need to take a more prominent role in limiting use of unnecessary tests.

0.9

0.7

1.4

6.2

50.6

41.1

4.3 (0.7)

Doctors are too busy to worry about the costs of tests and procedures. a

0.8

33.6

35.0

16.2

12.3

2.9

3.8 (1.1)

The cost of a test or medication is only important if the patient has to pay for it out-of-pocket. a

0.9

59.7

28.7

6.6

3.8

1.3

4.4 (0.9)

It is unfair to ask doctors to be cost-conscious and still keep the welfare of their patients foremost in their minds. a

1.4

19.6

34.7

18.8

19.0

8.0

3.4 (1.2)

  1. a: Negatively worded items were reversed so that a higher score would mean greater cost-consciousness.