Table 1.

Rationing Dilemma Across Experimental Conditions

Control Condition	Withholding Condition	Bedside Condition
A public health agency is deciding which medical treatments patients will and will not get access to. Currently, there are patients suffering from a serious disease and in need of a specific medicine. Without access to this medicine, the patients’ quality of life will be negatively affected.	A public health agency is deciding which medical treatments patients will and will not get access to. Currently, there are patients suffering from a serious disease and in need of a specific medicine. Without access to this medicine, the patients’ quality of life will be negatively affected.	A physician is deciding which medicines patients will and will not get access to. Currently, there are patients suffering from a serious disease and in need of a specific medicine. Without access to this medicine, the patients’ quality of life will be negatively affected.
However, an independent assessment of the costs and benefits associated with the medicine has concluded that it is not deemed cost-effective, meaning that the resources spent on the medicine could be better used elsewhere in the health care system. The recommendation following the assessment of cost-effectiveness is therefore to deny patients access to the medicine.	However, an independent assessment of the costs and benefits associated with the medicine has concluded that it is not deemed cost-effective, meaning that the resources spent on the medicine could be better used elsewhere in the health care system. The recommendation following the assessment of cost-effectiveness is therefore to deny patients access to the medicine.	However, an independent assessment of the costs and benefits associated with the medicine has concluded that it is not deemed cost-effective, meaning that the resources spent on the medicine could be better used elsewhere in the health care system. The recommendation following the assessment of cost-effectiveness is therefore to deny patients access to the medicine.
The public health agency is faced with a decision regarding the medicine. Should it be rationed, meaning that the medicine would be withdrawn from patients who are currently undergoing and experiencing the benefits of the medical treatment. If the medicine is not withdrawn from patients, cutbacks instead need to be done on treatments elsewhere in the health care system. In your opinion, would a policy to withdraw the medicine from patients be acceptable/unacceptable?	The public health agency is faced with a decision regarding the medicine. Should it be rationed, meaning that the medicine would be withheld from patients who are currently seeking and would experience the benefits of the medical treatment. If the medicine is not withheld from patients, cutbacks instead need to be done on treatments elsewhere in the health care system. In your opinion, would a policy to withhold the medicine from patients be acceptable/unacceptable?	The physician is faced with a decision regarding the medicine. Should it be rationed, meaning that the medicine would be withdrawn from patients who are currently undergoing and experiencing the benefits of the medical treatment. If the medicine is not withdrawn from patients, cutbacks instead need to be done on treatments elsewhere in the health care system. In your opinion, would a decision from the physician to withdraw the medicine from patients be acceptable/unacceptable?

In the control condition, treatment is withdrawn at a policy level. The difference in the withholding and bedside conditions compared with the control condition is bolded. The participants were randomized to 1 of these conditions.