Defensive medicine practices among gastroenterologists in Japan

Table 4 Relation between assurance and avoidance behaviors and practice types

	Practicetype	Often/sometimesn (%)
Assurance behavior
Order more tests than medically	Solo	2/18(11)a
indicated	Hospital clinic	43/107 (40)
	Other	3/6 (50)
Prescribe more medications	Solo	1/18 (6)
(e.g., antibiotics) than	Hospital clinic	19/107 (18)
medically indicated	Other	1/6 (17)
Refer patients to other specialists	Solo	18/18(100)b
unnecessarily	Hospital clinic	69/107 (64)
	Other	3/6 (50)
Suggest invasive procedures	Solo	10/18 (56)
(e.g., biopsy) to	Hospital clinic	57/107 (53)
confirm diagnosis	Other	3/6 (50)
Avoidance behavior
Avoid certain procedures	Solo	12/18 (67)
or interventions	Hospital clinic	82/107 (77)
	Other	5/6 (83)
Avoid caring for high-risk patients	Solo	14/18 (78)
	Hospital clinic	80/107 (75)
	Other	5/6 (83)

^aP = 0.013,

^bP = 0.0006 vs hospital clinic.