# Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Family Medicine Physicians Regarding the Costs of Common Laboratory Investigations in the Chronic Disease Clinic at King Saud Medical City: A Cross-Sectional Study

## TL;DR

This study found that many family physicians at King Saud Medical City underestimate the costs of common lab tests for chronic diseases, highlighting the need for better cost awareness to improve cost-effective healthcare.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the cost awareness of family physicians regarding common lab tests in a specific clinical setting.

## Key findings

- Most physicians underestimated the costs of tests like complete blood count and liver profile.
- Urine analysis was the test with the highest correct cost estimation (85.3%).
- Work experience was significantly associated with better awareness of liver panel costs.

## Abstract

Objectives: To assess the awareness of family medicine physicians regarding the cost of common laboratory investigations in chronic diseases. It also aims to evaluate their awareness of how costs could affect their medical decision-making.

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among all family medicine physicians working in the King Saud Medical City. Our data were collected using questionnaires distributed to participants by group members. Both a paper-based version and an online version through SurveyMonkey (Momentive, CA, USA) were used.

Results: A total of 95 family physicians were included in this study, and nearly half of them, 48 (50.5%), were males. The majority, 66 (69.5%), 72 (75.8%), 70 (73.3%), and 73 (76.4%), physicians underestimated the cost of complete blood count, coagulation profile, iron studies, and liver profile, respectively. The least correctly estimated tests appear to be hemoglobin A1C and iron studies. Correct cost estimation was the highest in urine analysis (81, 85.3%). Work experience was significantly associated with the awareness about liver panel cost (P=0.040).

Conclusion: The capacity of family physicians to correctly estimate the prices of various laboratory tests varies significantly, as this study shows. While most doctors predicted the cost of routine procedures, such as urine analysis, accurately, many had trouble with tests like thyroid panels and creatinine clearance. These results highlight the need for doctors to have a better understanding of costs associated with diagnostic tests since this is necessary to support the provision of cost-effective healthcare.