Trayectoria evolutiva del autoconcepto físico

Method

Part 1

While the research is aimed at capturing as complete a picture as possible, by

assessing the entire hospital’s admitted population, it is not without its weaknesses.

Every effort was made to ensure that the response rate from the study was

maximised. Firstly, the language of the survey is designed in easy-to-understand

English. Jargon and long sentences are avoided and the questions are specific and

some non-English speaking background (NESB) patients may not have completed

the survey due to the language barrier, even though the contact details of a free

interpreter service was listed on the back of the survey. These factors would,

however, affect the reliability of the results obtained, to some degree.

Furthermore, some patients may consider the survey result to be an official hospital

record may choose to falsify certain information provided. Or, for the same reason,

and also because the survey is voluntary, some may chose not to participate in this

study at all. These factors could all affect the amount of data captured as well as the

quality of the data obtained in the study. Patients were advised in writing that the

participation of this survey was voluntary and that the information provided is

confidential and would not be disclosed to any third parties. The patients were further

advised that they could remain anonymous, and the information provided would not

in any way affect their hospital treatment. These efforts were used to alleviate

participants’ concerns or the fear of any negative consequences from participating

the survey. Nevertheless, it is recognised that even with the effort put into to

informing patients of the purpose of the study and helping them to complete the

survey, some patients who do not wish to participate the study, simply will not.

Part 2

An analysis of the financial implications of encouraging patients to take up PHI is

based on data obtained from secondary sources. Data accuracy is dependent on the

reliability of the data source from which this data is collected. The accuracy of this

data may be beyond the control of the researcher. It is likely that some of the

financial implications or resource utilisation may need to be based on best-guess

estimates and variations. For example: the number of minutes an administrative

spent on the interview, can only be based on a best-guess estimation. From an

individual-patient benefit and cost point of view, because each patient’s personal

circumstances are different, there is a need to estimate what the likely benefits for

patients will be (equating to the dollar value benefit of these “free” benefits that they

will be receiving). Other benefits, however, are not easily quantifiable in dollar terms,

for example: patients may have chosen to go to Canterbury Hospital simply due to its

close proximity to their home, rather than going to another private facility that is

located in another suburb.

Patients could also have a vested interest going to a public hospital simply to obtain

the benefit of “excess waived”, and then later choosing to go to a private hospital

because the public hospital has already paid for their excess in that calendar year. It

is not clear as to how many patients simply go to public hospitals for this purpose,

however it is important to understand that the methodology employed in this study is

unlikely to eliminate the data-reliability problem caused by these patients using the

public hospital system for another purpose, and then choose not to disclose that

information in the survey. However, it is assumed that the percentage of patients

who use the public hospital to reduce their excess liability would be low. The purpose

of doing this is to go to a public hospital as a private patient, the public hospital

would waive the excess fees and then a patient could be transferred to a private

hospital and does not have to pay for an excess for that year. There is generally a

low number of private patients who are transferred to a private hospital subsequent a

public hospital transfer.

Proposals made in this study regarding ways to encourage more patients to use PHI

may not always be practical or realistic in the public healthcare system, where some

recommendations made could also be subject to budgetary and resource constraints

that are beyond the control of the researcher. Recommendations for any future

strategies will be assessed based on their practicality, in order to ensure that they

are achievable and realistic.

Assumptions

There are a number of assumptions made for the new study:

• That patients who have a very basic command of English will able to understand the content of the survey, and that while contact details for a free

interpreter service is provided to all respondents in order to afford as much

support as possible to NESB respondents, these patients will choose not to

contact an interpreter for completion of the survey.

• Financial data relating to patient fees revenue are assumed to be accurate and from a trustworthy source (SLHD financial information system), and will

be adopted directly for the financial modelling.

• A portion of patients with PHI but chose not to use their cover is willing to provide some information in the survey about their reasons for not using PHI.