Challenging Encounters and Within-Physician Practice Variability

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Chodick, Gabriel; Goldstein, Yoav; Shurtz, Ity; Zeltzer, Dan
• 署名单位: Tel Aviv University; Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
• 刊物名称: REVIEW OF ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0034-6535
• DOI: 10.1162/rest_a_01314
• 发表日期: 2025-07
• 页码: 889-897
• 关键词: bad; time; news

摘要

We examine how physician decisions are affected by difficult cases-encounters with newly diagnosed cancer patients. Using detailed administrative data, we compare primary care physicians' decisions in visits that occurred before and after difficult cases and matched comparison cases by the same physicians on other dates. Immediately following a difficult case, physicians increase referrals for common tests, including diagnostic tests unrelated to cancer. The effect lasts only for about an hour and is not driven by patient selection or schedule disruption. The results highlight difficult encounters as a source of variability in physician practice.