Validation and analysis of a physician-directed disease management scale

Abstract

Physicians' willingness to utilize various disease management related services were examined in 523 physicians using a Medical Practice and Patient Compliance Survey (MPPCS). The survey was distributed via telefax to the physicians who were accessed from Pfizer Incorporated's physician database. Along with overall willingness levels, the responses were examined to determined whether gender, region, medical specialty and percentage of managed care patients in their medical practice had a significant effect on the physicians' willingness to use the presented services and programs. Data were subjected to factor analysis, ANOVAs and multiple regression to determine significant main effects and interaction effects for the dependent variables. Results of the survey are broken down into five Subscales: (1) Patient education and compliance methods, (2) Practice guidelines, (3) Administrative support programs, (4) Online communications and, (5) Directing patients to use alternative medicine treatments. The majority of the physicians reported high willingness to use all the services presented. Physicians were generally less willing to use outside companies to provide patient education, triage or monitor compliance of their patients. Physicians with greater than 50 percent of their patients from managed care were significantly more willing to use alternative medicine treatments, patient education and patient compliance programs, administrative support programs, and online communications to other providers and patients. There were limited differences in willingness to use the services based geographic region or gender.