Physicians Views On Defensive Medicine: A National Survey in Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal Hospital at National Guard, Dammam City, Eastern Province Saudi Arabia 2018-2019

Aim Aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of defensive medicine among physicians working in Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal Hospital (IABFH) in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Method This cross sectional study was conducted during December 2018 to January 2019 in which all doctors who were working in medicine and surgery department at IABFH participated in the study. Closed ended questionnaire was provided to each participant after explaining the purpose of the study. Result Total of 52 out of 232 doctors participated in the study and hence participation rate was 83 %. Doctors from surgery department showed significant disagreement compare to medicine doctor regarding practicing defensive medicine (P-value 0.032). Significantly high proportion of female (p-value 0.05) than male doctors was disagreed that defensive medicine practice would impair physician-patient relationship. Conclusion Physicians were in favor of practicing defensive medicine as well as they also did not want to compromise the patients care. Doctors from surgery compare to medicine department showed higher agreement towards defensive medicine. Neither practicing defensive medicine would impairrelation between physician-patient nor restrict physician mentality or creativity stated by female participants.