In this issue, we will discuss how incentives change the behavior of medical professionals.
Do you seek incentives in your work?
For some people, getting incentives when they achieve a certain level of success seems like a positive thing that makes their work worthwhile and changes their behavior.
However, in the incentive-driven industry, it is said that some people may not be rewarded if they don't produce results, and some people may resort to unreasonable sales behavior.Of course, there are no incentives for those who are self-employed, so this story is limited to those who are employed.
Is there a change in the behavior of healthcare workers when such incentives are offered? I would like to introduce a study that investigates whether such incentives change the behavior of healthcare workers.
Contents of the study
This is a meta-analysis that identified and summarized four of the 32 studies that were reviewed.The results of the study show which behaviors were changed by the incentives and which were not.
Behaviors that changed
Usefulness of visits and consultations in improving outcomes
Useful for improving treatment/care
Useful for referral systems, hospitalization, etc.
Ineffective behaviors
Adherence to guideline outcomes.
Commentary.
It was shown that inadequate treatment and care of patients can be improved by taking action to improve those behaviors, such as visiting patients after treatment to ask how they are doing and consult with them, and taking positive actions such as inpatient measures and referral to other hospitals when necessary.
There are some inconsistencies, such as the fact that incentives do not change when it comes to acting in accordance with symptoms and system guidelines.
One possible way to think about it.
If people know that they will be paid an additional $0.00 per admission, they may take the initiative to admit patients, they may be more aggressive in their treatment actions, they may provide treatment they don't need to provide, or they may act on their desire for incentives, such as visiting or calling patients when they don't want to.
Flodgren G, Eccles MP, Shepperd S, Scott A, Parmelli E, Beyer FR. Overview of reviews assessing the effectiveness of financial incentives in changing health care worker behavior and patient outcomes. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011, No. 7. Number: CD009255. doi: 10.1002 / 14651858.CD009255.
Summary
In the Corona disaster, there was talk of incentives for health care workers who are working harder than usual, but depending on the purpose for which they are paid, there could be unexpected consequences.
And since there is no change in adherence to the guidelines whether incentives are offered or not, it is possible that medical institutions with tight sales are doing things without patients noticing.It would be nice if they were paid to act correctly, but when people are rewarded for their immediate actions, they tend to act for that purpose.
If we want to be grateful to medical professionals, we need to avoid excessive visits to medical institutions, don't we?
This is an idealistic way to ensure that those who really need medical services can receive them promptly.
