Catarina Caetano (Portugal)
Agrupamento Centros de Saúde Lisboa Ocidental e Oeiras Unidade de Saúde Familiar DeltaAuthor Of 2 Presentations
DEFENSIVE MEDICINE AND ITS PERCEPTION IN PRIMARY HEALTHCARE
Abstract
Abstract Body
Defensive Medicine and its perception in Primary Healthcare
Background and purpose
Defensive medicine (DM) is defined as a deviation from standard medical practice for fear of medical malpractice claims and has serious consequences for patients, doctors and public funds. Our aim is to understand the perception of the practice of DM in Primary Health Care, specifically in the Health Centers Group of West Lisbon and Oeiras (HCG WLO).
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study between May 2019 and September 2020, including all 182 physicians working at HCG WLO. Each participant received a questionnaire to answer within two months and the results were analysed through SPSS® version 27.
Results
We included 138 questionnaires (11 excluded and 33 not answered). 61% of physicians consider DM a moderate problem and 92.2% have already practiced DM, which includes ordering additional exams (93,7%), referring more to secondary care (53,2%) and scheduling further appointments (34,9%). The main reasons for DM are the need for more information to make safer decisions (63,8%) and patient insistence on performing extra procedures (55,9%). 68.3% believe that practicing DM reduces malpractice claims.
Conclusions
Most physicians practice DM, although they consider it a problem and recognise its elevated costs. They believe that protocol development, legal support improvement, consultation time adjustment and health literacy promotion may diminish the problem. It was not possible to establish a statistical association between workplace, medical category, and DM practice due to the low number of participants. The research team aims to apply this protocol nationwide for more valid results and to promote new policies.
DEFENSIVE MEDICINE AND ITS PERCEPTION IN PRIMARY HEALTHCARE
Abstract
Abstract Body
Defensive Medicine and its perception in Primary Healthcare
Background and purpose
Defensive medicine (DM) is defined as a deviation from standard medical practice for fear of medical malpractice claims and has serious consequences for patients, doctors and public funds. Our aim is to understand the perception of the practice of DM in Primary Health Care, specifically in the Health Centers Group of West Lisbon and Oeiras (HCG WLO).
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study between May 2019 and September 2020, including all 182 physicians working at HCG WLO. Each participant received a questionnaire to answer within two months and the results were analysed through SPSS® version 27.
Results
We included 138 questionnaires (11 excluded and 33 not answered). 61% of physicians consider DM a moderate problem and 92.2% have already practiced DM, which includes ordering additional exams (93,7%), referring more to secondary care (53,2%) and scheduling further appointments (34,9%). The main reasons for DM are the need for more information to make safer decisions (63,8%) and patient insistence on performing extra procedures (55,9%). 68.3% believe that practicing DM reduces malpractice claims.
Conclusions
Most physicians practice DM, although they consider it a problem and recognise its elevated costs. They believe that protocol development, legal support improvement, consultation time adjustment and health literacy promotion may diminish the problem. It was not possible to establish a statistical association between workplace, medical category, and DM practice due to the low number of participants. The research team aims to apply this protocol nationwide for more valid results and to promote new policies.