ArticleBMC medical education2026
Malpractice fear and career decision regret among resident physicians: a cross-sectional study.
Article in BMC medical education, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundMalpractice litigation is increasingly prevalent in contemporary healthcare and may influence both clinical decision-making and physicians' psychological well-being. The present study aims to evaluate the fear of malpractice and career decision regret among resident physicians and to identify factors associated with these constructs.
methodsA total of 308 resident physicians (87.7% of the eligible population) from surgical and non-surgical clinical specialties at a university hospital in Turkey were included. Fear of malpractice was assessed via the Malpractice Fear Scale, and career decision regret was assessed via the Decision Regret Scale. We collected data on sociodemographic characteristics, specialty preferences, and exposure to malpractice complaints. Multivariate linear regression identified independent predictors of fear of malpractice and career decision regret.
resultsHigh levels of fear of malpractice were reported by 73.1% of the residents, and 73.4% experienced varying degrees of career decision regret, predominantly mild regret (44.2%). Fear of malpractice and career decision regret were modestly (r
conclusionsFear of malpractice is a prevalent stressor among resident physicians and is significantly associated with career decision regret. While malpractice-related experiences may increase regret, intrinsic motivations for specialty choice-particularly personal interest and professional satisfaction-appear to buffer against career decision regret. These findings suggest that strengthening both medicolegal support and factors that promote professional fulfillment may help improve residents' career well-being. Integrating medicolegal education, psychological support, and institutional risk-management strategies into residency programs may help mitigate these adverse effects.
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