Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Over 90 percent of physicians admit to practicing defensive medicine
"A total of 824 physicians (65%) completed the survey. Nearly all (93%) reported practicing defensive medicine. 'Assurance behavior' such as ordering tests, performing diagnostic procedures, and referring patients for consultation, was very common (92%). Among practitioners of defensive medicine who detailed their most recent defensive act, 43% reported using imaging technology in clinically unnecessary circumstances. Avoidance of procedures and patients that were perceived to elevate the probability of litigation was also widespread. Forty-two percent of respondents reported that they had taken steps to restrict their practice in the previous 3 years, including eliminating procedures prone to complications, such as trauma surgery, and avoiding patients who had complex medical problems or were perceived as litigious. Defensive practice correlated strongly with respondents’ lack of confidence in their liability insurance and perceived burden of insurance premiums."
"A total of 824 physicians (65%) completed the survey. Nearly all (93%) reported practicing defensive medicine. 'Assurance behavior' such as ordering tests, performing diagnostic procedures, and referring patients for consultation, was very common (92%). Among practitioners of defensive medicine who detailed their most recent defensive act, 43% reported using imaging technology in clinically unnecessary circumstances. Avoidance of procedures and patients that were perceived to elevate the probability of litigation was also widespread. Forty-two percent of respondents reported that they had taken steps to restrict their practice in the previous 3 years, including eliminating procedures prone to complications, such as trauma surgery, and avoiding patients who had complex medical problems or were perceived as litigious. Defensive practice correlated strongly with respondents’ lack of confidence in their liability insurance and perceived burden of insurance premiums."
Posted by Kevin |
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Comments:
Well, this has to be among the more ridiculous studies. First, as a general rule, surveys are fairly useless foruncovering true behavior. People don't report what they do. --that's why Nielsen puts little boxes on televisions rather than send out surveys.
Second, the survey, itself seems badly designed. Just scanning the questions, they do not seem to put forth a clear definition of "defensive medicine"--a very vague term-- and would seem too sweep in any slightly cuastious, conservative behavior.
If doctors think this sort of research gives them insight into policy issues, fine. I just hope they base their diagnoses on better research.
Second, the survey, itself seems badly designed. Just scanning the questions, they do not seem to put forth a clear definition of "defensive medicine"--a very vague term-- and would seem too sweep in any slightly cuastious, conservative behavior.
If doctors think this sort of research gives them insight into policy issues, fine. I just hope they base their diagnoses on better research.
# posted by 
: 8:23 AM
: 8:23 AM
Kevin, thanks for putting this up. It's a great study out of Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard Medical School, and Columbia College of Physicians & Surgeons.
All educated folks know about the overwhelming evidence for survey/poll data from the psychology, sociology, and economics literature. This one was particularly well designed. The definitons in particular were clear and unambiguous, such that it would be impossible for the intended audience not to have understood the questions.
And of course this particular survey is so obviously spot on because it actually states the obvious. Walk into any ward or unit in an American hospital today and observe just twenty four hours. If you have even the medical knowledge of a 15 year old, you'd come out shocked at the sheer scale and horror of defensive medicine, the crazy, insane things that need to be done because of what the lawyers have turned American health care into.
They have destroyed one of the noblest things of the past 100 years - modern medicine.
And they don't know it.
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All educated folks know about the overwhelming evidence for survey/poll data from the psychology, sociology, and economics literature. This one was particularly well designed. The definitons in particular were clear and unambiguous, such that it would be impossible for the intended audience not to have understood the questions.
And of course this particular survey is so obviously spot on because it actually states the obvious. Walk into any ward or unit in an American hospital today and observe just twenty four hours. If you have even the medical knowledge of a 15 year old, you'd come out shocked at the sheer scale and horror of defensive medicine, the crazy, insane things that need to be done because of what the lawyers have turned American health care into.
They have destroyed one of the noblest things of the past 100 years - modern medicine.
And they don't know it.
# posted by : 5:57 PM
: 5:57 PM
