title: [Defensive behavior? Also in dentistry?].
abstract: The objective of this pilot-study was to investigate if defensive behaviour of dental practitioners occurs just as in the general practice of family physicians. On the basis of a survey, developed in the Department of General Practice of the University of Amsterdam, 38 dentists (mainly general-practitioners with an average of 20.9 years in practice), were interviewed. The dentists mention defensive practices, but the reasons are unrelated to fear of law-suits. They recommend unnecessary treatments, based on the wishes of their patients. The financial situation of the patient and defensive behaviour are closely related. The respondents avoid to give treatments because of dentally unmotivated patients or deviant behaviour of their visitors. Unnecessary referrals to specialists are also cited. Defensive behaviour was found to play a role in 3.5% of all patient encounters.
authors.affiliation: Vakgroep Sociale Tandheelkunde en Voorlichtingskunde, Academisch Centrum Tandheelkunde Amsterdam, Louwesweg 1, 1066 EA Amsterdam.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Eijkman
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Assink
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003675:Defensive Medicine; D003729:Dental Care / Q000379:methods; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D004990:Ethics, Dental; D005260:Female; D005792:General Practice, Dental; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists'; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D016079:Refusal to Treat; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures
vernacular_title: Defensief handelen? Ook in de tandheelkunde?