The effects of austerity measures on quality of healthcare services: a national survey of physicians in the public and private sectors in Portugal

Table 2 Descriptive statistics

Analyses variables and categories				N	%
Independent variable	Sector of activity	Exclusive in public		1209	58.6
		Exclusive in private		854	41.4
		Total		2063	100.0
		Exclusive in public	Primary healthcare	509	42.1
			Public hospitals	634	52.4
			Non answer	66	5.5
		Total		1209	100.0
		Exclusive in private	Small-size offices	274	32.1
			Clinics	230	26.9
			Hospital	79	9.3
			Non answer	271	31.7
		Total		854	100.0
Moderator variables	Years of practice	Up to 12 years		644	31.2
		13–25 years		473	22.9
		26–39 years		520	25.2
		Over 40 years		426	20.0
		Total		2063	100.0
	Medical specialty	Anesthesiology		59	2.9
		Cardiology		28	1.4
		Dermatology		17	.8
		Gastroenterology		23	1.1
		General practice/family medicine		498	24.1
		General surgery		110	5.3
		Internal medicine		132	6.4
		Neurology		16	.8
		Obstetrics and gynecology		78	3.8
		Oncology		38	1.8
		Ophthalmology		41	2.0
		Orthopedics		49	2.4
		Other surgical specialties		54	2.6
		Otorhinolaryngology		29	1.4
		Pediatrics		109	5.3
		Physical medicine and rehabilitation		26	1.3
		Psychiatry		64	3.1
		Public Health		28	1.4
		Pulmonology		31	1.5
		Radiology		36	1.7
		Stomatology		30	1.5
		Non answer		567	27.5
		Total		2063	100.0
Dependent variables—quality of care	DV1	No		1465	82.7
		Yes		307	17.3
		Total		1772	100.0
	DV2	No		639	35.1
		Yes		1184	64.9
		Total		1823	100.0
	DV3	No		1149	69.4
		Yes		506	30.6
		Total		1655	100.0
	DV4	No		1384	76.2
		Yes		432	23.8
		Total		1816	100.0
	DV5	No		1819	84.4
		Yes		336	15.6
		Total		2155	100.0
	DV6	No		747	51.1
		Yes		716	48.9
		Total		1463	100.0

Notes: (1) Sums of subject numbers for the dependent variables are not always equal because of missing data; percentages are based on number of subjects for whom data were available; (2) DV1—refusal of innovative treatments; DV2—regular shortage of work supplies; DV3—shortage of drugs; DV4—pressure to choose less-expensive treatments; DV5—pressure not to prescribe specific drugs; DV6—inferior medical training

ISSN: 1478-4491