Table 2.
Self-Reported Professional Behaviors and Cost-Conscious Attitudes Among Physicians by Mean Emotional Exhaustion and Mean Depersonalization Scores
| Emotional exhaustion score mean (SD) | p value | Depersonalization score mean (SD) | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional behaviors | ||||
| Documented something (e.g., review of systems) had forgotten to do so that could “close out” an encounter in the EHR. | ||||
| Yes | 27.0 (12.8) | < 0.01 | 9.4 (7.1) | < 0.0001 |
| No | 23.6 (13.3) | 6.5 (6.4) | ||
| Documented a part of the physical exam that had not been examined to justify a billing code. | ||||
| Yes | 27.0 (12.8) | 0.01 | 10.0 (7.2) | < 0.0001 |
| No | 24.0 (13.1) | 6.7 (6.4) | ||
| Assigned an indication for a test different from why really ordered so that it would be reimbursed by the patient’s insurance and the patient would not have to pay out of pocket. | ||||
| Yes | 27.9 (12.8) | < 0.0001 | 9.2 (7.2) | < 0.0001 |
| No | 22.8 (12.9) | 6.2 (6.1) | ||
| Did not discuss all treatment options with patients because was too busy. | ||||
| Yes | 28.1 (12.9) | < 0.0001 | 10.1 (7.0) | < 0.0001 |
| No | 23.2 (13.0) | 6.2 (6.3) | ||
| Requested CME credit for a lecture, course, or activity not attended. | ||||
| Yes | 28.9 (13.1) | 0.03 | 10.6 (8.0) | < 0.01 |
| No | 24.3 (13.1) | 7.0 (6.6) | ||
| Cost-conscious attitudes | ||||
| It is unfair to ask physicians to be cost-conscious and still keep the welfare of their patients foremost in their minds. | ||||
| Disagree/strongly disagree* | 23.6 (13.3) | 0.04 | 6.6 (6.4) | 0.004 |
| Strongly agree/agree† | 25.4 (12.9) | 7.9 (6.9) | ||
| Doctors are too busy to worry about the costs of tests and procedures. | ||||
| Disagree/strongly disagree* | 22.8 (13.1) | < 0.0001 | 6.4 (6.1) | < 0.0001 |
| Strongly agree/agree† | 27.7 (12.8) | 9.1 (7.3) | ||
| It is my responsibility to try to contain health care costs. | ||||
| Strongly agree/agree* | 23.4 (12.8) | < 0.001 | 6.9 (6.3) | 0.04 |
| Disagree/strongly disagree† | 27.4 (13.9) | 8.4 (7.6) | ||
| Cost to society is important in my decisions to use or not to use an intervention. | ||||
| Strongly agree/agree* | 24.3 (13.3) | 0.48 | 7.4 (6.7) | 0.36 |
| Disagree/strongly disagree† | 24.8 (13.0) | 7.0 (6.6) | ||
| There is currently too much emphasis on costs of tests and procedures. | ||||
| Disagree/strongly disagree* | 24.2 (13.4) | 0.62 | 7.1 (6.6) | 0.55 |
| Strongly agree/agree† | 24.6 (12.8) | 7.3 (6.7) | ||
| I try not to think about the cost to the health care system when making treatment decisions. | ||||
| Disagree/strongly disagree* | 24.6 (13.2) | 0.56 | 7.5 (6.8) | 0.20 |
| Strongly agree/agree† | 23.9 (13.0) | 6.8 (6.5) | ||
*Favorable
†Unfavorable