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An evaluation of income incentives and board-certification trends.

In this paper the author examines income differentials between board-certified and non-board-certified physicians to determine whether the trend toward board certification is consistent with economic incentives. Although simple income comparisons indicate substantial differentials by certification status, after adjustments are made for specialty-mix, age distribution, and hours worked, the remaining differential is small. However, results by specialty indicate that physicians are most likely to become certified in specialties with the largest income differentials.

Adult↗

The case for financial incentives to encourage organ donation.

The existing system of organ procurement has failed in its mission of providing an adequate number of organs for transplantation. The organ shortfall results in diminished life expectancy and quality of life for dialysis patients and in increased mortality for patients with end-stage cardiac disease and liver failure who are unable to obtain transplants. Oft-repeated arguments against sale of human organs do not stand up to careful examination, and seem anachronistic in the context of widespread current acceptance of financial incentives for tissue donation in analogous fields, such as reproductive medicine. This essay advocates the staged introduction of a reward-based system of organ donation, initially for cadaveric harvesting and, possibly, later for living donation. Although imperfect, the proposed approach would represent a significant improvement over the status quo.

Europe↗

Comparison of continuous positive airway pressure, incentive spirometry, and conservative therapy after cardiac operations.

Of 38 patients undergoing median sternotomy for cardiac operations all developed profound restrictive defects in pulmonary function during the first 72 h after tracheal extubation. Although decreased lung volumes were refractory to correction by vigorous, aggressive pulmonary therapy during this period, frequent and supervised treatment may prevent further deterioration in pulmonary function. The overall incidence of pneumonia was only 3% (1/38). Continuous positive airway pressure delivered by mask proved to be a nearly effortless form of postoperative respiratory therapy that was less painful than incentive spirometry or coughing and deep breathing, and therefore may be preferable.

Cardiopulmonary Bypass↗

Economic incentives in health manpower policy.

Policymakers have evidenced continued concern with the issue of maldistribution of physicians among specialties and locations. Many of the recent policy proposals in this area have involved increasing the financial rewards to primary care specialization and to location of practice in underserved areas. This article examines the evidence on current economic incentives to specialize and to locate, including income and the hours of work needed to produce income. Findings suggest that current distributions of physicians among locations and specialties are more consistent with a decision to minimize hours worked, rather than an income maximization rule. Policy implications are discussed with respect to potentially perverse results which may occur if consideration is not given to this aspect of career decisions.

Health Policy↗

The incentive effects of malpractice liability rules on dental practice behavior.

OBJECTIVES: The impact of malpractice liability rules on dental practice behavior was estimated using data from a 1992 nationwide survey of US general dentists. The study examined the premise that malpractice liability rules can affect quality of care and related resource allocation decisions by dentists, but that market features, such as relatively complete and "non-experience rated" malpractice insurance, are likely to weaken the incentive effects of malpractice liability. METHODS: General practice dentists in the United States were selected randomly, and 3,048 dentists were studied by mail survey. Secondary data on county-level characteristics were used to measure market area factors. Quality-of-care measures were derived from the survey about self-reported practice policies and behavior and participation in continuing education. Legal measures were assembled from state statutes and appellate court decisions. Ordinary least squares was used to assess the relation between legal variables and dependent variables of quality of care, continuing education, and the rate of dental output. RESULTS: Hypotheses about the effects of malpractice law on practice quality and participation in continuing education were not supported. The relation between pro-dentist law and output was supported. A number of legal provisions related to differences in practice behavior, but often in ways opposite to the expected direction. CONCLUSIONS: The direct effects of specific malpractice liability rules on dentist practice behavior often failed to point in the direction predicted by theory and were economically insignificant. It is possible that relatively complete malpractice liability insurance, coupled with "noisy" liability rules, substantially dulls the deterrent effect of malpractice liability. Other forces, such as the dentist's past malpractice claims experience, were more significant in shaping dentist behavior.

Education, Dental, Continuing↗

Failure of a lottery incentive to increase compliance with return visit for test-of-cure culture for Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

The impact of the financial incentive of playing a lottery on the rate of return for test-of-cure cultures was evaluated at a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases. All teenagers and young adults treated for gonorrhea (or as contacts of patients with gonorrhea) who were given a test-of-cure appointment were eligible to participate; in order to win, they had to keep the appointment. The return rate was documented during a baseline and a lottery phase for 519 patients. Females were significantly more likely to keep the appointment (47%) than males (27%), regardless of intervention, but there was no improvement in the return appointment rates with the lottery (baseline, 31% vs. lottery, 33%). Although teenaged males were more likely to participate in the lottery than young adult males and all females, only young adult females who participated were significantly more likely to return (68%). Reasons for failure of the lottery are discussed. Thus, despite the successful use of a lottery in previous studies, it is not always helpful in improving compliant behavior in certain populations.

Adolescent↗

Incentive spirometer for bedside studies.

We evaluated an incentive spirometer (IS) for monitoring changes in lung function in hospitalized patients. Accuracy and reproducibility of IS measurements of known volumes were adequate (r = 0.87). Flow dependency was demonstrated but was not significant in the clinically useful range. Reproducibility of IS measurements in five normal subjects was good, with a small training effect uncovered. In 15 patients with asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease, change in IS values closely correlated with spirometrically measured changes in volume and flows (best correlation: IS versus FEV1/FVC%, r = 0.98) and in peak flow. The performance of the IS as tested and its availability in most hospitals outweigh its limitations. We advocate its use as an adjunct in monitoring progress of hospitalized patients with obstructive lung disease.

Asthma↗

Using a low-cost, prize-drawing incentive to improve recruitment rate at a work-site smoking cessation clinic.

A major obstacle in promoting smoking cessation programs through work sites is recruiting adequate numbers of smokers. We used a quasi-experimental design to evaluate the effect of a low-cost incentive (a prize drawing) for attracting participants to a smoking cessation clinic offered at multiple work sites. Sixty-eight automobile dealerships were randomized to either a "prize" or control group. Smokers employed at work sites in the prize group were offered a chance to win a dinner for two for participating in a smoking cessation clinic. In November 1986, a questionnaire assessing tobacco use habits was sent to 3432 employees of the 68 work sites. A cohort of 844 smokers was identified from a total of 1986 employees who returned surveys. All smokers received registration materials to participate, free of charge, in one of three smoking cessation programs held in June 1987. The overall employee participation rate in the smoking cessation program was 6.6% (n = 56) with an overall work-site participation rate of 37.3% (n = 25). The rate was nearly identical in the "prize" and control groups (employee rate: 6.3% versus 6.7%; work-site rate: 39.4% versus 35.3%, respectively).

Adult↗

Financial incentives to promote smoking cessation: evidence from 11 quit and win contests.

In an effort footline to motivate smokers across New York State to stop smoking, tobacco control programs across the state held 'Quit and Win' incentive-based stop-smoking contests. These contests encouraged smokers to make a quit attempt by offering a chance to win cash prize (usually 1,000 dollars) for successfully stopping smoking for at least 1 month. Between 2001 and 2004, 11 different Quit and Win Contests involving 5,504 adult smokers were sponsored in different communities across New York State. Follow-up surveys were conducted 4 to 6 months after each contest ended to evaluate participants' success in quitting smoking. Expenditures for promoting contests varied from a high of 91,441 dollars to a low of 4,345 dollars, with a median of 25,928 dollars. An average of 0.55 percent of smokers was recruited to join contests across the 11 communities. Among smokers who enrolled in a contest, 9 out of 10 reported making a quit attempt, and between 53 percent and 72 percent reported quitting for the full month of the contest. At 4 to 6 months follow-up, self-reported quit rates (7-day point prevalence) among contestants ranged from 22 percent to 49 percent, with an average of 31 percent. Based on a statewide population survey, 8 of the 11 programs showed quit rates that were significantly higher (P < .001 by Wilcoxon rank-sum test) than the estimated quit rate of 21 percent seen among smokers making a quit attempt in the past year. This study shows that for a relatively modest investment of resources, thousands of smokers can be recruited to make a serious quit attempt, with many remaining smoke-free months later.

Adult↗

Pressure ulcer prevention in black and white nursing home residents: A QI initiative of enhanced ability, incentives, and management feedback.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if educating nursing home staff about pressure ulcer prevention reduces the differential risk of pressure ulcer development in black and white nursing home residents. DESIGN: Subanalysis of a study designed to monitor the emergence of all pressure ulcers in nursing home residents during 12-week baseline and intervention periods. PARTICIPANTS: All residents and staff of a not-for-profit, 136-bed nursing home in urban western Pennsylvania. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The quality improvement intervention, featuring a computer-based interactive video education program on pressure ulcer prevention and early detection, consisted of 3 components: (1) staff ability enhancement, (2) staff financial incentives, and (3) real-time management feedback. Three specific outcome measures were monitored for differential risk of pressure ulcer development in black and white nursing home residents: (1) the rate of emergent Stage I-IV pressure ulcers identified, (2) the rate of emergent Stage II-IV pressure ulcers identified, and (3) the rate of individual residents developing at least 1 pressure ulcer (Stages II-IV). RESULTS: At baseline, black residents demonstrated a higher rate of Stage II-IV pressure ulcer emergence. Black residents with any pressure ulcer were also more likely to have multiple Stage II pressure ulcers compared with white residents. During the baseline period, 31.8% of the pressure ulcers detected in white residents were Stage I, whereas no Stage I pressure ulcers were detected in black residents. During the intervention period, the rate of emergence of all pressure ulcers declined for both groups in similar trends. CONCLUSION: Black residents were more likely to have multiple Stage II-IV pressure ulcers and were less likely to have Stage I pressure ulcers identified at baseline compared with white residents. The education intervention effectively reduced the rate of pressure ulcers for all residents and eliminated the racial disparity noted during the baseline period.

Black or African American↗

The future of health promotion/disease prevention programs: the incentives and barriers faced by stakeholders.

According to Healthy People 2010, 95% of employers with more than 50 employees reported that they offered at least one health promotion activity by 1999. Employment-based health promotion/disease prevention (hp/dp) programs have significantly increased in frequency and scope since 1985. Yet, 20 years later, the reported results for employee health lag behind the literature documenting the impact of lifestyle-related health risks on morbidity, healthcare utilization, and costs. In this article, we consider the key stakeholders involved-employers, health plans, and employees-and explore their legitimate and feasible roles in employment-based hp/dp programs, including the incentives and barriers they face to program participation. We argue for the integration of hp/dp programs into the traditional health protection mission of occupational health and safety professionals.

Disease Management↗

Institutions, incentives and the future of fisheries.

Fisheries around the world are managed with a broad range of institutional structures. Some of these have been quite disastrous, whereas others have proven both biologically and economically successful. Unsuccessful systems have generally involved either open access, attempts at top-down control with poor ability to monitor and implement regulations, or reliance on consensus. Successful systems range from local cooperatives to strong governmental control, to various forms of property rights, but usually involve institutional systems that provide incentives to individual operators that lead to behaviour consistent with conservation.

Animals↗

Smoking and economic incentives in Europe.

This paper reviews the agenda for economic research near the beginning of a formative period for policy marked by much greater involvement by the EC (European Community). There are few signs as yet of any diffusion process at work in Europe to bring about reductions in smoking. Effective use of incentives will be needed to bring about reductions in smoking by 2000 and to stop yet further massive increases in mortality from smoking related disease. Research is needed on price and income elasticities in Europe as the EC introduces new policies for raising cigarette taxes and prices. Currently most estimates are based on US and UK data. There is also an important research agenda on the decision-making process in Europe covering the policy response of national governments and professions as well as the future role of the EC Commission. Finally, research is needed on the micro-economic determinants of the demand for tobacco products across Europe by households. Household data from family expenditure surveys are now available across Europe so that it is now possible to construct micro demand systems for each European country.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗

Can postoperative pulmonary conditions be improved by treatment with the Bartlett-Edwards incentive spirometer after upper abdominal surgery?

During the immediate postoperative course after upper abdominal surgery, pulmonary complications often occur, caused, inter alia, by reduced regional ventilation and by atelectases as a result of: (1) narrowing of the small peripheral bronchi, and (2) impaired respiratory function. Based on these pathophysiological mechanisms, an instrument (Bartlett-Edwards Incentive Spirometer) has been devised, which aims at giving the patient an opportunity of sustained maximal inspiration under standardized and controlled conditions. The use of this instrument has been followed by reports of a considerable reduction in postoperative pulmonary complications. In a controlled clinical investigation of the pre- and postoperative condition of the lungs, we were unable to show any beneficial effect of the instrument. In general, we have a low frequency of severe postoperative pulmonary complications, as compared with the results reported in the literature. We ascribe this to our very effective pre- and postoperative respiratory therapy.

Abdomen↗

The efficacy of incentive spirometry in patients with COPD.

OBJECTIVE: Although incentive spirometry (IS) is frequently used to prevent postoperative pulmonary complications, its efficacy in patients with COPD has not been documented. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of IS on pulmonary function tests, arterial blood gases, dyspnoea and health-related quality of life in patients hospitalized for COPD. METHODOLOGY: A total of 27 consecutive patients (mean age, 68.4 +/- 7.9 years; 26 males) admitted for COPD exacerbations were recruited for the study. In total, 15 (IS treatment group) used IS for 2 months, together with medical treatment. The remaining 12 (medical treatment group) were given only medical treatment. Pulmonary function and blood gases were measured. Assessment of dyspnoea by visual analogue scale (VAS) and quality of life using the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) were performed at admission and after 2 months of treatment. RESULTS: The activity, impact and total scores for the SGRQ improved (all P < or = 0.0001), PaCO2 values decreased (P = 0.02), PaO2 and PAO2 values increased (P = 0.02 and P = 0.01, respectively) in the IS treatment group. However, there were no significant differences between the measurements made pretreatment and after 2 months of medical therapy in the medical treatment group, with regards to pulmonary function, blood gases, SGRQ scores and VAS. CONCLUSION: The use of IS appears to improve arterial blood gases and health-related quality of life in patients with COPD exacerbations, although it does not alter pulmonary function parameters.

Aged↗

Subthalamic nucleus lesions increase impulsive action and decrease impulsive choice - mediation by enhanced incentive motivation?

The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is traditionally thought of as part of a system involved in motor control but recent evidence suggests that it may also play a role in other psychological processes. Here we examined the effects of STN lesions on two measures of impulsivity and found that STN lesions increased 'impulsive action' (produced behavioral disinhibition), as measured by performance on a differential reinforcement of low rates of responding task, but decreased 'impulsive choice' (impulsive decision making), as measured by a delay discounting task. In addition, amphetamine and food restriction increased 'impulsive action' and decreased 'impulsive choice' to a greater extent in STN-lesioned animals than in sham controls. We speculate that these apparently discrepant effects may be because STN lesions enhance the incentive salience assigned to rewards. These findings suggest that the STN may serve as a novel target for the treatment of psychological disorders characterized by deficits in behavioral control, such as drug addiction and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Amphetamine↗

Fostering professionalism in medical education: a call for improved assessment and meaningful incentives.

Increasing attention has been focused on developing professionalism in medical school graduates. Unfortunately, the culture of academic medical centers and the behaviors that faculty model are often incongruent with our image of professionalism. The need for improved role modeling, better assessment of student behavior, and focused faculty development is reviewed. We propose that the incentive structure be adjusted to reward professional behavior in both students and faculty. The third-year medicine clerkship provides an ideal opportunity for clinician-educators to play a leading role in evaluating, rewarding, and ultimately fostering professionalism in medical school graduates.

Behavior↗