Hekimlerin Defansif Tıp ve Tıbbi Hata Tutumlarının İncelenmesi

Abstract

Defensive medicine and medical error, which have existed since the past but have become prominent in recent years, is an important issue for health services. The aim and base of this study is to investigate the physicians' attitudes toward 'medical error' and 'defensive medicine' which is a form of defense against these medical errors. In the present study, quantitative research design was used, and the data obtained were collected through survey forms. In the research, "Attitude Scale in Medical Errors" developed by Güleç (2012) and "Defensive Medicine Practices Attitude Scale" developed by Başer et al. (2014) were used. 207 physicians from a university hospital participated in the study. The medical error attitude and defensive medicine attitude means of the participants was found as 3.69 and 3.27, respectively. The result of the analyzes showed that the physicians participating in the study had an above-average attitude toward discussing medical errors and their causes with employees, reporting all errors, and increasing the patient safety by reporting medical errors. Specialist physicians compared to assistant physicians, physicians between the ages of 40 and over compared to physicians at the age 26-29 and physicians who have 11 years or more job duration compared to physicians who have 4 years or less job duration, were found to have a more positive attitude toward discussing and reporting medical errors and exhibiting an approach learning from these errors. It was concluded that he had a more positive attitude towards exhibiting a managerial approach. The physicians had an above average attitude towards both positive and negative defensive medicine practices. The data of the study indicated that male physicians who participated in the study applied to negative defensive medical practices more than female physicians. It was considered that assistant physicians are more defensive than specialist physicians, and those who work between 5-10 years are more defensive than those who work 11 years or more. These results revealed that the physicians had heard about the concept of defensive medicine before, but they did not have enough information about this subject. Suggestions that can be given regarding the findings of this research are as follows; policies should be developed and staff should be recruited in order to reduce the number of patients per physician. While Real cases about medical errors and defensive medicine are being discussed, suggestions should be put forward to reduce and resolve them.