{"id":3453,"date":"2026-07-04T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-04T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cicds.umfcd.ro\/?post_type=lucrari_cercetari&p=3453"},"modified":"2026-08-15T00:02:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-15T00:02:42","slug":"defensive-medical-practice-in-dentistry-a-dual-perspective-cross-sectional-analysis-of-dentists-and-patients-in-romania","status":"publish","type":"lucrari_cercetari","link":"https:\/\/cicds.umfcd.ro\/en\/lucrari_cercetari\/defensive-medical-practice-in-dentistry-a-dual-perspective-cross-sectional-analysis-of-dentists-and-patients-in-romania\/","title":{"rendered":"Defensive Medical Practice in Dentistry: A Dual-Perspective Cross-Sectional Analysis of Dentists and Patients in Romania"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Defensive Medical Practice in Dentistry: A Dual-Perspective Cross-Sectional Analysis of Dentists and Patients in Romania<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCernega, A.; Imre, M.; Ripszky, A.; Dimitriu, B.; Vasilescu, V.G.; Pi\u021buru, S.M.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHealthcare<\/em> 2026, 14, 1992.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAbstract\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBackground: Fear of malpractice and its potential legal, financial, and reputational consequences are associated with one of the most complex phenomena in the medical community: defensive medical practice (DMP). DMP is frequently analyzed in the specialized literature from the physician\u2019s perspective; however, the patient\u2019s role in triggering and maintaining defensive behaviors remains under-explored. Methods: This cross-sectional study examined contextual factors associated with fear of malpractice and the convergences between doctors\u2019 and patients\u2019 perspectives within a bilateral model (error\u2013fear\u2013perceived risk\u2013prevention behaviors), without assuming direct causal relationship. Two questionnaires were administered in Romania to 240 dentists (March\u2013June 2023) and 344 patients (June\u2013December 2023). Associations were tested with chi-square and Fisher\u2019s exact tests (reporting Cram\u00e9r\u2019s V and odds ratios), multivariate binary logistic regression, and post hoc power analysis. Results: Over half of dentists (53.3%) reported fear of malpractice despite minimal actual legal exposure (0.8%); this fear was associated with awareness of its potential consequences and perceiving patients as more demanding. In multivariate analysis, fear was the strongest independent predictor of perceiving patients as a threat (aOR = 3.98, 95% CI [1.67\u20139.48]). On the patient side, 57.9% would avoid a dentist with a known malpractice case and 34.0% had requested additional procedures for reassurance. Conclusions: The interaction between physician fear and patient pressure suggests the existence of a \u201creassurance loop\u201d, in which the patient\u2019s need for safety and the doctor\u2019s fear can mutually reinforce each other, fostering defensive behaviors. We propose an exploratory typology of patient-induced DMP\u2014direct induction (explicit requests for additional investigations\/procedures) and indirect induction (relational pressure and reassurance seeking)\u2014to guide future research. By integrating the dentist and patient perspectives within a bilateral model, the study provides a context-specific account of patient-induced defensive practice in Romanian dentistry and identifies dual-target educational interventions (addressing both clinician communication and patient health literacy) as a potential preventive direction.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Keywords: <\/strong><\/p>

professional error; malpractice; doctor\u2013patient relationship; defensive medical practice; VUCA; results pyramid<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCite\u0219te lucrarea online<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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