German Journal for Evidence and Quality in Health Care

Volume 106, Issue 3, 00-2012

pp. 185-194 (10)

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Harald Schmidt

Summary

Two meanings of personal responsibility are distinguished, and different policy options for promoting health and responsibility are presented. Key insights from research seeking to promote personal responsibility through health information and incentives are outlined and discussed with regard to their potential to improve health and reduce cost. Data is presented on the socioeconomic characteristics of incentive programme users. It is concluded that due to different factors the availability of data regarding the effectiveness of incentive programmes is unsatisfactory. Evaluation requirements set out in the German Social Security Code (SGB V) should focus not only on cost, but should also extend to changes in health status and the socioeconomic status of users: provisions should be revised accordingly.

(As supplied by publisher)

Keywords

Eigenverantwortung; Prävention; Bonusprogramme; public health; Ethik; personal responsibility; prevention; wellness incentives; public health; ethics

DOI (Digital Object Identifier):   10.1016/j.zefq.2012.03.017