Defensive medicine in Danish general: Types of defensive actions and reasons for practicing defensively

Merethe K. Andersen*, Elisabeth Assing Hvidt, Kjeld M. Pedersen, Jesper Lykkegaard, Frans B. Waldorff, Anders P. Munck, Line B. Pedersen

*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningpeer review

10 Citationer (Scopus)
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Abstract

Objective To examine the occurrence of and types of defensive medicine (DM), and the reasons for practicing DM in general practice. Design Prospective survey registration of consecutive consultations regarding defensive medicine defined as: Actions that are not professionally well founded but are carried out due to demands and pressure. The GPs registered the degree of defensiveness, the type(s) of defensive action(s) and the reason(s) for acting defensively. Setting Danish general practice. Subjects A total of 26 GPs registered a total of 1,758 consultations. Main outcome measures Defensive medical actions. Results Defensive actions were performed in 12% (210/1749) of all consultations. A fifth (46/210) of the defensive actions were characterised by the GPs as 'moderately' or 'highly' defensive. Frequent types of defensive actions were: blood tests, point-of-care-tests (POCTs) and referrals. Common reasons for defensive actions were: Influence from patients, 37% (78/210), concerns of overlooking severe disease, 32% (67/210) and influence from patient relatives, 12% (25/210). Conclusion Danish GPs registered self-perceived defensive actions in a prospective survey. DM was carried out in one out of eight consultations, most often due to patient influence. The most frequent defensive actions were blood tests, POCTs and referrals.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
BogserieScandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care. Supplement
Vol/bind39
Udgave nummer4
Sider (fra-til)413-418
Antal sider6
ISSN0281-3432
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2021

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