Using Town Meetings to Teach the Values Inherent in Health-Care Resource Allocation Decisions
John P. Bentley RPh, MBALon N. Larson PhD, RHp
Marian A. Brenton RN, MPA
pages: 29 - 51
- DOI: 10.1300/J060v04n03_04
- Version of record first published: 08Feb1995
Abstract:
Difficult decisions regarding the allocation of scarce healthcare resources will need to be addressed if significant changes are to be made in the American health-care system. Several states have begun such a process by providing a forum where citizens can participate in a serious discussion about these difficult choices and trying to determine what citizens find valuable and desirable about health-care services. The underlying goal is that healthcare reform will be congruent with community values. As future practitioners, pharmacy students need to understand these difficult decisions and the role of thoughtfully considered values in the decision making process. The purpose of this study was to utilize a town meeting approach for students to thoughtfully consider and discuss their values concerning health-care resource allocation and to evaluate the student acceptability of such a process. Students from two different classes participated and rated the process positively in regards to the amount of learning and understanding that occurred, were generally satisfied with the process and found the meeting valuable to attend.