Physician perceptions of managed care strategies, and impact of these on their clinical performance, in the South African private health sector
Department of Management, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, Cape Town, South Africa
Pillay, R., Department of Management, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, Cape Town, South Africa
Managed care strategies have been introduced into the South African private health sector a decade ago to help reduce medical costs in this sector. A cross-sectional survey using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted among primary care physicians in this sector to access their perceptions of these strategies and to analyse impact of these on their clinical behaviour. The results indicate that although insurers were not using these strategies extensively, doctors generally perceived them negatively. It was, however, pleasing to note that the newer generation of doctors, appear to be more accepting of this new philosophy of health-care delivery. © 2008 Royal Society of Medicine Press.
article; health care cost; health care delivery; health insurance; human; managed care; perception; philosophy; physician; primary medical care; priority journal; questionnaire; self concept; South Africa; clinical practice; cross-sectional study; female; male; organization and management; psychological aspect; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Managed Care Programs; Physician's Practice Patterns; Physicians; Private Sector; South Africa