Gender differences in healthcare worker views on government-subsidized healthcare

Nationalized Health Care

Do Men and Women working in the Healthcare Industry Differ in their Views Regarding Government Subsidized Health Care?

Economic pressures have many issues on the minds of American citizens. Making ends meet can be difficult enough. However, just one trip to the emergency room can put an entirely new meaning on one's financial woes. With rising healthcare costs, many cannot afford to obtain the medical care that they need. Private insurance costs have risen disproportionately to wages, creating a financial strain that everyone can feel.

One of the most recently proposed solutions to the healthcare crisis in America is to institute some form of government subsidized healthcare program, similar to what Canada and other countries already have in place. There are proponents and opponents on both sides of the issue. Some fear that the quality of care would go down and that people would have long waits for life-saving procedures.

Others see it as just the solution that the country needs in order to make care fair and equitable for everyone. Those working in the healthcare industry have a unique perspective on the situation. This study will examine a group of workers in a hospital setting to determine if men and women feel differently about the issue of subsidized health care reform in the United States.

Research Questions

The central issue of the study is whether men and women working in the healthcare industry feel differently about the issue of subsidized healthcare for everyone in the United States. It will support the hypothesis that men and women will have different opinions as to whether national healthcare should be instituted or not. The study will address several key research questions, including the following.

1. Will subsidized healthcare cost more in taxes than current healthcare premiums?

2. Will subsidized healthcare improve the accessibility to care for poor Americans?

3. Will subsidized healthcare place an unfair burden on the working class?

These key research questions will help the researcher to investigate the level of support between males and females in the healthcare industry.

Sample Population

The sample population for this study will consist persons currently working in the healthcare industry. It will include hospital workers in a variety of positions. It will only include those that actually have patient contact during the day such as technicians, schedulers and secretaries. It will not include those in non-patient related positions, such as maintenance personnel or food service workers. This sample population could have an affect on the outcome of the study due to the demographics of the group. It is expected that a higher number of the worker classes mentioned will be held by females, as opposed to males. This may create sampling bias in the study population by limiting the number of males that are available to participate.

Healthcare workers have inside information and see patients on a daily basis. They may have a different opinion from those that do not work inside the field. Men and women often see issues differently. These differences in opinion can provide valuable insight from a policy perspective. The sample population chosen for this study reflects different opinions from those that are no as familiar with the challenges and struggles that people face in regards to their healthcare. This sample population poses little threat to the validity of the study, other than the potential bias addressed earlier.

Study Design

The study will survey a population of 500. Of those, it is expected that 273 will respond the survey. The confidence level is 95%. The sampling error is +4. Participation in this survey will be voluntary. Hospital administration will be asked to help with the sample selection and administration of the survey. Surveys will be dropped off at the selected hospitals and left with the administration secretary. A memo will be sent out to all qualified employees informing them of the purpose of the study. Everyone that completes the survey will receive a free lunch at the cafeteria. This arrangement has been preapproved by administration. The administration secretary will hand out the surveys and collect them when they are complete. They will be placed in a manila envelope to be picked up at a prearranged time.

There are several possible sampling biases that may affect the study using his survey method. The first is that low income employees may be more enticed by the incentive offered than those in the higher pay brackets. The second is that not all employees prefer to eat in the hospital cafeteria. This study excludes those that prefer to eat elsewhere.

Sampling healthcare worker is expected to provide an interesting perspective on the issue. They are likely to have a different perspective from the general public or from economists. This opinion is likely to be biased. However, it is this biased perspective that the survey wishes to seek. This survey will provide a view from the inside, rather than from without.

National Healthcare Survey

Thank you for your interest in completing the National Healthcare Survey. Your responses will play an important role in helping leaders decide whether or not to support the proposed National Healthcare Plan.

Categorization Questions

Please Circle the Category that best describes you.

1. Are you Male or Female? Male Female

2. What is your age range?

18-30 31-45 46-60-60+

3. What is your average combined gross income for your household?

0-$25,000 $26,000-$50,000 $50,000-$100,000 over $100,000

4. What is your job title?

5. How long have you been working in the healthcare industry?

In the following survey, you will be given a list of statements. Please mark an "X" in the box that most accurately reflects the degree with which you agree or disagree with them.

1 = Agree

2=Somewhat Agree

3 = Neither Agree/Nor Disagree

4= Somewhat Disagree

5= Disagree

Statement

1

2

3

4

5

1

Health care costs in the United States are a major problem for the average family.

2

Private health insurance adequately covers most problems.

3

Nationalized health care would improve the current health care system. If you agree or somewhat agree answer 4, 5, and 6. If not, skip to #7.

4

Nationalized health care would cost less in taxes than the current system.

5

Nationalized health care would mean better quality.

6

The benefits outweigh the costs of nationalized health care.

7

Nationalized health care will mean longer waits for procedures than the current system.

8

Nationalized health care will make doctors more accountable in terms of procedural costs.

9

The current system is working just fine and does not need fixed.

10

Government regulation, not replacement is the key to solving the problem.

11

Finding affordable, quality heath care coverage is one of the biggest issues that America faces.

12

Patients complain often about the costs of their procedures.

13

Patients complain about the quality of care that they receive.

14

Nationalized health care would mean a significant increase in taxes.

15

Nationalized health care is a good idea.

16

Nationalized health care would solve all of the problems with the current health care system.

17

Nationalized health care works well in other countries.

18

I am in support of nationalized health care.

19

Nationalized health care places an unnecessary burden on middle income households.

20

Nationalized health care is being supported mainly by large high profit medical facilities.

Please answer the following questions in the space provided.

21. As a healthcare professional, how many of the patients that you come in contact with on a daily basis would you estimate are uninsured?

22. Do you feel that the current system needs to be fixed? ____. If yes, how?

23. Do you feel that nationalized health care would jeopardize your job? ____If yes, how?

Once again, thank you for your participation in this study.