Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37943831›Full record

ArticlePloS one2023

The practice of defensive medicine among Jordanian physicians: A cross sectional study.

Qosay Al-Balas, Shoroq Altawalbeh, Carmela Rinaldi, Ibtihal Ibrahim

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
2.1field-weighted citation impact, top 11% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Qosay Al-BalasDepartment of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science & Technology, Irbid, Jordan.ORCID 0000-0002-8350-900X
Shoroq AltawalbehDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
Carmela RinaldiDepartment of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-2730-5846
Ibtihal IbrahimDepartment of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.ORCID 0000-0002-2778-6459
Jordan University of Science and Technology · JOAl-Zaytoonah University of Jordan · JOUniversità degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro” · IT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDefensive medicine (DM) is a deviation from medical practice that is induced primarily by a threat of liability. While the DM behavior is well studied in the developed countries, little is known in developing countries and never been evaluated in Jordan.

objectiveTo evaluate the prevalence of DM practice in Jordan among physicians and to investigate reasons behind its practice and potential strategies to alleviate this practice.

methodsIn this Cross-sectional study, self-administered questionnaire was distributed to a sample of physicians in both public and private sectors in Jordan. The collection period was from Jan 2021 to June 2021. The prevalence of DM practice was estimated among the study sample. Frequency scores of different DM behaviors, reasons of DM behaviors, and effectiveness of strategies in changing DM behaviors were summarized as average frequency scores with standard deviations. Multivariable linear regression models were conducted to evaluate potential predictors of total assurance and avoidance behavior scores.

resultsA total of 175 Jordanian physicians completed the survey. The prevalence of adopting (or witnessing) DM behaviors among the study sample was 68% (n = 119). Diagnostic laboratory exams followed by prescribed medications were the most practiced behaviors in excessive rate during a typical working week. Unfavorable legislation for the physician was reported as the headmost reason for practicing DM, followed by pressure from the public and mass media opinion. Continuous update of knowledge, abilities, and performance and following specific protocols and/or appropriate clinical evidence and appropriate multidisciplinary and multi-professional communication were the most effective strategies that can mitigate DM behaviors.

conclusionsDefensive medicine practice is common among Jordanian physicians with concerns about increasing pattern in the future.

Indexed as

Defensive MedicinePhysiciansCross-Sectional StudiesHumansJordanPractice Patterns, Physicians'Surveys and Questionnaires

Identifiers

PMID37943831
PMCPMC10635536
OpenAlexW4388522051

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.