medigraphic.com
ISSN 1405-8871 (Print)

2017, Number 2

<< Back Next >>

Aten Fam 2017; 24 (2)

Defensive Medicine: Evaluation of its Practice in Family Medicine Units in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico

Ramírez-Alcántara YL, Parra-Melgar LA, Balcázar-Rincón LE

Language: Spanish
References: 15
Page: 62-66
PDF size: 278.67 Kb.


ABSTRACT

Objective: to evaluate the dimension of the defensive medicine practice in Family Medicine Units of the Mexican Institute of Social Security in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, Mexico. Methods: Crosssectional and analytical study. Practice of defensive medicine was evaluated of 87 outpatient Family Medicine physicians from three Primary Care level units. The instrument was formed by 17 questions that explored perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors related to daily practice and five questions on socio-demographic and labor characteristics. The statistical analysis included the χ2 test, a p‹0.05 as meaningful was established. Results: 92% of the surveyed persons showed some degree of defensive medicine practice. Staff labor shift was related to the practice of defensive medicine in some level (p=0.007). Conclusions: it was determined in this study that defensive medicine is highly practiced, so the doctor-patient relationship needs to be improved since an honest and open communication with the patient and his family could reduce the fear of legal repercussions and would allow the physician to act with greater freedom and judgment.


REFERENCES

  1. Corbella J. Antecedentes históricos de la medicina legal en España. Barcelona: ppu; 1995.

  2. Arimany J. La medicina defensiva, un peligroso boomerang. Orthopedic. 2006;29(4):296-7.

  3. Paredes R, Rivero O. Medicina defensiva. En: Rivero O, Tanimoto M, editores. El ejercicio actual de la medicina. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; 2003. 79-89.

  4. Tancredi LR. The problem of defensive medicine. Science. 1978;200(43):879-82.

  5. Ortega M, Méndez J, López F. Medicina defensiva, su impacto en las instituciones de salud. Revista Conamed. 2009;14:4-10.

  6. Sánchez J, Tena C, Campos E, Hernández L, Rivera A. Medicina defensiva en México: una encuesta exploratoria para su caracterización. Cir Ciruj. 2005;3:199-206.

  7. Prieto SE, Valdepeña MP, Mora M, Jiménez CA. Medicina defensiva en un Hospital General Regional. Med Int Mex. 2013;29(1):32-8.

  8. Studdert D, Mello M, Sage W, DesRoches C, Peugh G, Zapert K, et al. Defensive Medicine among high-risk specialist physicians in a volatile malpractice environment. jama 2005;293:2609-17.

  9. Catino M. Why do doctors practice defensive medicine? The side effects of medical litigation. Safety Med Sci Mon. 2011;15:4.

  10. Guzmán JI, Shalkow J, Palacios JM, Zelonka R, Zurita R. ¿Medicina defensiva o medicina asertiva? Cirujano General. 2011;33(S2):151-6.

  11. Summerton N, Graham JR. Effects of the medical liability system in Australia, the UK, and the USA. Lancet. 2006;368(9531):240-6.

  12. Rodríguez Almada H. Los aspectos críticos de la responsabilidad médica y su prevención. Rev Med Urug. 2001;17(1):17-23.

  13. Bishop TF, Federman AD, Keyhani S. Physicians’ views on defensive medicine: a national survey. Arch Intern Med. 2010;170:1081-3.

  14. Johnston WF, Rodríguez RM, Suarez D, et al. Study of medical students’ malpractice fear and defensive medicine: a “hidden curriculum?” West J Emerg Med. 2014;15:293-8.

  15. Peñalonzo MA, Argueta AI, Rojas MJ. Medicina defensiva en Guatemala. Resultados de una encuesta exploratoria entre cirujanos. Rev Guatem Cir. 2007;16(3):33-7.




2020     |     www.medigraphic.com