Knowledge of medical students, residents, and professors about costs of exams in medical clinic

Abstract

Introduction

Medicine is inserted in a context in which the quality of healthcare is linked directly with the number of exams and procedures, giving attention to erroneous thoughts of values from the overuse of exams and procedures, consequently; creating an overload on the health system. One of the greatest challenges regarding the cost of medical care is to understand to solve low-quality care rates and impending health management deficits, there needs to be an awareness of professionals about excessive medical care that does not contribute to the health of the population. This study seeks to know if students, residents, and physicians know about the costs of the main medical clinic exams.

Material and methods

Empirical cross-sectional study, involving students attending the medical internship, professors of the medical internship, and residents.

Results

Of the 263 participants, 66.9% were students, 19.4% were teachers, and 13.7% were residents. It is observed, in this study, most of the participants did not know the values of tests frequently used in medical practice, such as blood count and blood glucose, as well as imaging tests such as chest radiography, ultrasound of the total abdomen, and cranial tomography. There was greater knowledge of exam values among teachers.

Conclusion

Students, residents, and physicians demonstrated they were unaware of the cost of the main exams in medical practice. A study like this can improve reflective behavior regarding to the cost-conscious attitude among medical students and doctors.