Letter to the Editor about the article Physicians’ perception about defensive medicine in primary healthcare: cross-sectional study

Authors

  • Luiz Miguel de Mendonça Soares Santiago Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra; Clínica Universitária de Medicina Geral e Familiar da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra; Centro de Estudo e Investigação em Saúde da Universidade de Coimbra (CEISUC)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v41i6.14349

Keywords:

Medicines, Defensive medicine

Abstract

x

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References

1. Esteves AC, Carvalho CB, Faria M, Santos M, Rachadell J, Farinha L, et al. Physicians’ perception about defensive medicine in primary healthcare: cross-sectional study. Rev Port Med Geral Fam. 2025;41(4):344-53.

2. Hvidt EA, Lykkegaard J, Pedersen LB, Pedersen KM, Munck A, Andersen MK. How is defensive medicine understood and experienced in a primary care setting? A qualitative focus group study among Danish general practitioners. BMJ Open. 2017;7(12):e019851.

3. Cordey M, Chatelard S, Widmer D, Ouvrard P, Herzig L. Ordinary defensive medicine: in the shadows of general practitioners' postures toward (over-)medicalisation. Philos Ethics Humanit Med. 2024;19(1):10.

4. Simões PA, Santiago LM, Maurício K, Simões JA. Prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication in the older adult population within primary care in Portugal: a nationwide cross-sectional study. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2019;13:1569-76.

5. Rusz CM, Ősz BE, Jîtcă G, Miklos A, Bătrînu MG, Imre S. Off-label medication: from a simple concept to complex practical aspects. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(19):10447.

6. Roberts M. ‘Most family doctors’ have given a patient a placebo drug [homepage]. In: BBC News. 2013 Mar 21 [cited 2025 Sep 15]. Available from: www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21834440

7. Broeiro P, Maio I, Ramos V. Polifarmacoterapia: estratégias de racionalização [Polypharmacy: Strategies for rationalization]. Rev Port Clin Geral. 2008;24(5):625-31. Portuguese

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Published

2026-01-07

Issue

Vol. 41 No. 6 (2025): Revista Portuguesa de Medicina Geral e Familiar

Section

Letter to Director

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Portuguese Journal of Family Medicine and General Practice

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How to Cite

Letter to the Editor about the article Physicians’ perception about defensive medicine in primary healthcare: cross-sectional study. (2026). Portuguese Journal of Family Medicine and General Practice, 41(6), 570-1. https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v41i6.14349

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