A recent survey of physicians asked several questions about prescribing practices. The primary report was that only primary care physicians cited costs as one of the most important considerations in their prescribing habits. Out of 10 factors, all of the ologists ranked cost as the sixth or less most important consideration. Pulmonologists ranked it last.
The primary care physicians were not further divided into the subtypes. However the finding of this survey mirrors a study of the cost-effective attitudes and beliefs of family physicians. They reported that it was part of their characteristic attitudes and skills that they considered in their complex medical decision making as long as it didn’t impact the quality of care. I know of no similar evidence for internists or pediatricians.
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