Table 2.
Reasons for ordering an unnecessary test or carrying out an unnecessary medical procedure
| General practitioners (n=936) |
Paediatricians (n=682) |
Total (n=1618) |
|
| N (%) | N (%) | N (%) | |
| Due to insistent pressure by the patient | 627 (67) | 398 (58.4) | 1025 (63.3) |
| Due to lack of time for patient consultation | 418 (44.7) | 198 (29.0) | 616 (38.1) |
| To gain greater control and safety of the case | 359 (38.4) | 291 (42.7) | 650 (40.2) |
| Because I do not know how to make the patient understand that it is unnecessary | 262 (28.1) | 150 (22.0) | 412 (25.5) |
| To avoid a future demand | 200 (21.4) | 92 (13.5) | 292 (18.1) |
| To satisfy the patient | 196 (20.9) | 92 (13.5) | 288 (17.8) |
| To avoid a claim | 177 (18.9) | 80 (11.7) | 257 (15.9) |
| Out of respect for the patient’s decisions | 132 (14.1) | 130 (19.1) | 262 (16.2) |
| Due to the standard or custom of making the order in the area | 111 (11.9) | 21 (3.1) | 132 (8.2) |
| To carry out epidemiological or clinical studies | 19 (2.0) | 26 (3.8) | 45 (2.8) |
| Due to indications in obsolete guides | 26 (2.8) | 19 (2.8) | 45 (2.8) |