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Consultation behaviour of doctor‐shopping patients and factors that reduce shopping
Author(s) -
Ohira Yoshiyuki,
Ikusaka Masatomi,
Noda Kazutaka,
Tsukamoto Tomoko,
Takada Toshihiko,
Miyahara Masahito,
Funakoshi Hiraku,
Basugi Ayako,
Keira Katsunori,
Uehara Takanori
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of evaluation in clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.737
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1365-2753
pISSN - 1356-1294
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2753.2010.01605.x
Subject(s) - medicine , odds ratio , confidence interval , referral , logistic regression , family medicine , complaint , political science , law
Abstract Rationale, aims and objectives To investigate the subsequent behaviour of doctor‐shopping patients (defined as those attending multiple hospitals for the same complaint) who consulted our department and factors related to cessation of doctor shopping. Methods Patients who presented without referral to the Department of General Medicine at Chiba University Hospital in Japan (our department) completed a questionnaire at their first visit. A follow‐up questionnaire was also sent to them in order to assess doctor shopping after 3 months. Then items in the questionnaires were investigated for significant differences between patients who continued or stopped doctor shopping. Logistic regression analysis was performed with items showing a significant difference between patients who stopped doctor shopping and those who continued it, in order to identify independent determinants of the cessation of shopping. Results A total of 978 patients who presented spontaneously to our department consented to this study, and 929 patients (95.0%) completed questionnaires correctly. Among them, 203 patients (21.9%) were identified as doctor shoppers. The follow‐up survey was completed correctly by 138 patients (68.0%). Among them, 25 patients (18.1%) were found to have continued doctor shopping, which was a significantly lower rate than before ( P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis selected the following factors as independent determinants of the cessation of doctor shopping: ‘confirmation of the diagnosis’ (odds ratio: 8.12, 95% confidence interval: 1.46–45.26), and ‘satisfaction with consultation’ (odds ratio: 2.07, 95% confidence interval: 1.42–3.01). Conclusion Doctor shopping decreased significantly after patients consulted our department, with ‘confirmation of the diagnosis’ and ‘satisfaction with consultation’ being identified as contributing factors.