Back to Search
Start Over
Second victim: Malpractice disputes and quality of life among primary care physicians.
- Source :
- Journal of the Formosan Medical Association; Feb2019, Vol. 118 Issue 2, p619-627, 9p
- Publication Year :
- 2019
-
Abstract
- <bold>Purpose: </bold>The health of physicians can have a strong impact on the quality and safety of the health care they provide. Studies have shown a link between work stress, burnout, and depression. The aim of this study was to examine the association between malpractice dispute experiences and the well-being of physicians.<bold>Methods: </bold>We conducted a cross-sectional survey to collect information about the malpractice experiences of primary care physicians in 2004. Data on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and SF-36 measures were also collected. We used propensity score matching to estimate the association of medical malpractice experience with the general health, mental health, and vitality of physicians.<bold>Results: </bold>Among the 1206 primary care physicians who completed the survey (response rate of 13.4%), 25.2% reported having ever experienced a malpractice dispute. After adjustment for baseline variables, physicians who had experienced a malpractice dispute had significantly worse health-related quality of life with regard to general health [-4.85; 95% confidence interval (CI), -7.61 to -1.80; P = 0.0016], mental health (-2.68; 95% CI, -5.03 to -0.34; P = 0.0252), and vitality (-3.28; 95% CI, -6.10 to -0.47; P = 0.0224). The effects were particularly strong among physicians specializing in surgery or obstetrics and gynecology.<bold>Conclusion: </bold>The results reveal that a malpractice dispute can have a long-term negative effect on the health of physicians. Harm reduction programs for physicians involved in malpractice disputes should be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 09296646
- Volume :
- 118
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Supplemental Index
- Journal :
- Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 134754222
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfma.2018.07.012