First Advisor

Theresa E. Julnes

Date of Publication

1994

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Public Administration and Policy

Department

Public Administration

Language

English

Subjects

Physicians -- Oregon -- Attitudes, Health care reform -- United States -- Public opinion, National health insurance -- United States -- Public opinion, Health care rationing -- Oregon -- Public opinion

DOI

10.15760/etd.6635

Physical Description

1 online resource (2, xv, 235 pages)

Abstract

This dissertation studies Oregon primary care physicians' attitudes toward health care reform. Two models of reform are examined: one, health care rationing such as that proposed by the Oregon Health Plan (OHP); and, two, support for national health insurance (NHI).

This work examines the necessity for changing the present health care system, traced from the early origins of the medical profession to the present day health care "crisis." The high cost of health care is examined and an overview of the OHP is provided, including citations from John Kitzhaber, M.D., author of the plan.

Overall, Oregon primary care physicians overwhelmingly supported health care rationing policies. Just under 75 percent of the physicians expressed support for health care rationing policies such as that proposed by the Oregon Health Plan. However, just under 48 percent of the same physicians expressed support for national health insurance (NHI). Internal medicine physicians were most supportive of health care rationing policies and OB/GYN physicians were least supportive. Conversely, pediatricians were most supportive of NHI and OB/GYN physicians were least supportive.

Regression analyses explained 11.5 percent of variation in support for health care rationing policies and 20.9 percent of their support for national health insurance (NHI).

While strong support measures were found for health reform such as that proposed by the Oregon Health Plan (OHP), no similar measures of support for NHI emerged. Almost universal support for health care reform such as the OHP was found among primary care physicians across the state, however similar patterns were not found for NHI. It appears from the research's findings that attempts to change the health care system that include the physician's ability to ration care would be more successful than a more systematic change such as would occur under a national health insurance program.

This dissertation points out that physicians represent strong supporting forces and/or opposing forces for health care reform. Their attitudes toward such reform must be considered if successful change is to occur in the U.S. health care system.

Rights

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Comments

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Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/27815

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