Healthy Skepticism Library item: 12594
Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.
Publication type: Journal Article
Berry SR, Hubay S, Soibelman H, Martin DK.
The effect of priority setting decisions for new cancer drugs on medical oncologists' practice in Ontario: a qualitative study.
BMC Health Serv Res 2007 Nov 28; 7:193:
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6963/7/193
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Health care policies, including drug-funding policies, influence physician practice. Funding policies are especially important in the area of cancer care since cancer is a leading cause of death that is responsible for a significant level of health care expenditures. Recognizing the rising cost of cancer therapies, Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) established a funding process to provide access to new, effective agents through a “New Drug Funding Program” (NDFP). The purpose of this study is to describe oncologists’ perceptions of the impact of NDFP priority setting decisions on their practice. METHODS: This is a qualitative study involving semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 46 medical oncologists in Ontario. Oncologists were asked to describe the impact of CCO’s NDFP drug funding decisions on their practice. Analysis of interview transcripts commenced with data collection. RESULTS: Our key finding is that many of the medical oncologists who participated in this study did not accept limits when policy decisions limit access to cancer drugs they feel would benefit their patients. Moreover, overcoming those limits had a significant impact on oncologists’ practice in terms of how they spend their time and energy and their relationship with patients. CONCLUSION: When priority setting decisions limit access to cancer medications, many oncologists’ efforts to overcome those limits have a significant impact on their practice. Policy makers need to seriously consider the implications of their decisions on physicians, who may go to considerable effort to circumvent their policies in the name of patient advocacy.
Keywords:
Antineoplastic Agents/economics*
Antineoplastic Agents/supply & distribution
Attitude of Health Personnel*
Decision Making
Drug Approval/economics
Drug Approval/legislation & jurisprudence
Female
Health Policy*
Health Priorities/legislation & jurisprudence*
Health Services Accessibility/legislation & jurisprudence*
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Male
Medical Oncology/economics
Medical Oncology/trends*
Neoplasms/drug therapy*
Ontario
Patient Advocacy
Physician-Patient Relations*
Practice Management, Medical
Professional Autonomy*
Qualitative Research
