Exploring defensive medicine: examples, underlying and contextual factors, and potential strategies - a qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Medical errors, unsatisfactory outcomes, or treatment complications often prompt patient complaints about healthcare providers. In response, physicians may adopt defensive practices to mitigate objections, avoid complaints, and navigate lengthy trial processes or other potential threats. However, such defensive medicine (DM) practices can carry risks, including potential harm to patients and the imposition of unnecessary costs on both patients and the healthcare system. Moreover, these practices may run counter to accepted ethical standards in medicine.

Methods

This qualitative study involved conducting semi-structured interviews with 43 physicians, among whom 38 were faculty members at medical universities, 42 had administrative experience at various levels of th

SUBMITTER: Eftekhari MH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10563204 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature