Effect of malpractice claims on orthopedic and traumatology physicians in Turkey: A survey study

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the malpractice claims experienced by orthopedic and traumatology physicians andto determine their effects on burnout, job satisfaction, and clinical practice.Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted on orthopedic and traumatology specialists between May 2019 and February2020. Data collection was carried out via e-survey at “turk-ortopedi” mail group, which is an electronic communication networkof orthopedic and traumatology physicians. For data collection, sociodemographic data forms were used including the generalcharacteristics, working conditions, and the malpractice claim events along with the Maslach Burnout Inventory scale to evaluate burnout and the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire to investigate job satisfaction.Results: In total, 353 orthopedic and traumatology physicians (348 men, 5 women), including 37 professors, 41 associate professors,and 275 surgeons, completed the questionnaire. In total, 65.4% of the participants (231 physicians and 471 relevant dossiers) statedthat they were currently facing a malpractice claim. Emotional burnout and hesitant behavior in medical practices were significantlyhigher among the physicians who had undergone an investigation/trial with the claim of malpractice (p<0.05), whereas intrinsic jobsatisfaction was significantly lower (p<0.05). It was determined that orthopedic and traumatology physicians dealing with arthroplasty, vertebral surgery, hand surgery, and foot/ankle surgeries had undergone significantly more trials (p<0.05). In the evaluationof the burnout levels and job satisfaction scores of the physicians according to the age, academic title, seniority, and institution, itwas determined that burnout level decreased with age, those between the ages of 25 and 34 years were exhausted the most, and jobsatisfaction increased with age. It was also found that burnout level decreased and job satisfaction increased as the academic titlebecame higher, and attending physicians were the most exhausted. Moreover, burnout level decreased as seniority increased, themost senior ones were the ones most exhausted, and job satisfaction increased with seniority.Conclusion: Evidence from this study has revealed that malpractice claims cause emotional burnout, low intrinsic job satisfaction, and a hesitant behavior in medical practice for the orthopedic and traumatology physicians. The concept of malpracticealone may result in unnecessary analyses/examinations for patients.Level of Evidence: Level IV, Diagnostic Study