National Post-Election Health Care Survey November 5-9, 2008 Center to Champion Nursing in America, AARP
April 21-24, 2008 N = 1200 l Margin of Error = ±% Linda A. DiVall, President Ferguson, Senior Vice President Bob Carpenter, Vice President Randall Gutermuth, Vice President
Gary
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Introduction
The Center to Champion Nursing in America, a joint initiative of AARP, the AARP Foundation, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, commissioned American Viewpoint to conduct a national survey on questions relating to the importance of nursing to health reform initiatives. Three questions were asked on a national omnibus survey conducted immediately after the 2008 presidential election. Telephone interviewing with a random sample of 1,003 adults nationwide was conducted from November 5-9, 2008. Of the total sample, 775 respondents voted in the election. All surveys are subject to error caused by interviewing a sample rather than the entire population. The margin of error for a random sample of n=1,003 is ± 3.2 percentage points at 95% confidence. The margin of error for a random sample of n=775 is ± 3.6%. The project director for this survey was Gary Ferguson, Senior Vice President of American Viewpoint.
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November 5-9, 2008
Of 1,003 respondents, 23% did not vote, were not registered or refused to say. Among voters (n=775), 53% voted for Barack Obama and 46% for John McCain.
Thinking about the 2008 election for President, did you vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin, Republicans, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, Democrats, Bob Barr and Wayne Allen Root, Libertarians, or Ralph Nader and Matt Gonzalez, Independents Or didn’t you get a chance to vote?
McCain/Palin Obama/Biden Barr/Root Nader/Gonzalez Non-Voter 0% * * * *
0% 23%
36% 46% 41% 53%
All Voters
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
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November 5-9, 2008
Nearly nine out of 10 Americans (87%) say that when Congress and the president write health reform laws, it is important for them to address the current shortage of nurses and nursing faculty. Nearly two-thirds (65%) say that it is extremely or very important. Scores are strong across all major subgroups. When the new Congress and the president write health care reform laws, how important is it for them to address the current shortage of nurses and nursing faculty?
Extremely Very Important 65% 66% 61% 67% 63% 65% 66% 60% 69% 56% 59% 73% 61% 65% 82% 68% 60% 66% 82% 69% 55% 64% 80% 63% Not Important 10% 10% 13% 7% 10% 10% 7% 17% 5% 12% 12% 11% 13% 6% 2% 4% 16% 10% 3% 10% 12% 10% 2% 11%
Extremely Important Very Important Somewhat Important Not Very Important Not at All Important Don't know 6% 4% 3% 22%
29% 36%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
65% 10%
Total Extremely/Very Important Total Not Important
Total Northeast Midwest South West Voter Non-voter McCain Obama Men 18-34 Men 35-59 Men 60+ Women 18-34 Women 35-59 Women 60+ Democrat Republican Independent Under $25K $25K-$50K Over $50K White Black Hispanic
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November 5-9, 2008
In the same vein, 88% agree – and 56% strongly agree – that making sure there are enough nurses to monitor patient conditions, coordinate care and educate patients should be a part of the effort to improve the quality of health care. Agreement is strong regardless of region, sex/age, party affiliation, voter type, income or race. The new Congress and President will be considering ways to improve the quality of health care. Do you agree or disagree that making sure there are enough nurses to monitor patient conditions, coordinate care and educate patients should be a part of this effort?
Total Northeast Midwest South West Voter Non-voter McCain Obama Men 18-34 Men 35-59 Men 60+ Women 18-34 Women 35-59 Women 60+ Democrat Republican Independent Under $25K $25K-$50K Over $50K White Black Hispanic Agree 88% 88% 88% 87% 88% 88% 87% 79% 96% 84% 84% 83% 91% 92% 91% 95% 84% 85% 92% 89% 89% 88% 97% 86% Disagree 10% 10% 10% 9% 10% 10% 9% 17% 3% 14% 12% 12% 8% 6% 6% 4% 14% 12% 5% 10% 10% 10% 3% 12%
88%
10%
2%
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November 5-9, 2008
Americans clearly perceive the value of nurses. In all, 87% agree – 55% strongly – that nurses can play an important role in reducing health care costs in the areas of patient safety, preventing medical errors, care coordination and providing primary and preventive care. Once again, agreement is high across the subgroups. Do you agree or disagree that nurses can play an important role in reducing health care costs by keeping patients safe, preventing medical errors, coordinating care for people with chronic conditions, and providing cost-effective primary and preventive care?
Total Northeast Midwest South West Voter Non-voter McCain Obama Men 18-34 Men 35-59 Men 60+ Women 18-34 Women 35-59 Women 60+ Democrat Republican Independent Under $25K $25K-$50K Over $50K White Black Hispanic Agree 87% 90% 85% 87% 87% 88% 85% 85% 90% 83% 88% 84% 88% 88% 90% 89% 85% 89% 87% 85% 88% 88% 88% 80% Disagree 9% 6% 12% 8% 9% 9% 8% 12% 6% 15% 7% 10% 7% 9% 5% 6% 11% 10% 9% 9% 10% 8% 6% 16%
87%
9%
3%
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November 5-9, 2008
Summary and Conclusions
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The Center to Champion Nursing in America is in a strong position to make its case to Congress and the administration during the health reform debate. Clearly, Americans recognize the importance and value of nursing and agree that shortages in nurses and nursing faculty need to be addressed in reform initiatives. Support for the Center’s positions is apparent across the population. Other surveys indicate that making health care more affordable is the most important goal for health reform. The public agrees that nurses can play an integral role in reducing health care costs through their roles in enhancing patient safety, preventing medical errors, coordinating care for those with chronic disease and providing cost-effective primary and preventive care.
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November 5-9, 2008