Medical students' opinions on economic aspects of the health care system

Responses of 423 freshmen and 410 seniors at Jefferson Medical College in 1980-81 and 1982-83 to 15 questions on economic aspects of the health care system were compared. A majority of the students considered the cost of medical care, the cost of medical education, malpractice claims, and the failure of individuals to assume responsibility for their health to be major problems. A majority of the seniors also considered excessive government influence on the financing of medical care a major problem. More freshmen than seniors favored national health insurance and health maintenance organizations. More seniors than freshmen supported the professional standards review organization concept and action to discourage increases in the supply of physicians. Concern about the number of physicians entering the profession increased among seniors between 1981 and 1983. The data suggest that at graduation the students were more concerned about the position of physicians but might not be more informed about important aspects of the functioning of the health care system than they were at entry.