Table 2 Responses to the questionnaire
From: The prevalence, reasons and attitudes for the practice of informal medicine
Question | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
1. Did you at any time request informal medical consulting from another doctor? | ||
Yes | 135 | 94.4% |
No | 8 | 5.6% |
143 | ||
2. During the last month, how often did people turn to you for informal medical consulting? | ||
A number of times a day /Once a day | 41 | 28.9% |
2–3 times a week/Once a week or less | 91 | 64.1% |
Not at all | 10 | 7.0% |
142 | (mis = 1) | |
3. By what means were the requests for informal medical consults directed to you (more than one response can be selected)? | ||
Face-to-face meeting, planned in advance | 121 | 84.6% |
Incidental meeting such as a social event | 99 | 69.2% |
Phone messages (such as Whatsapp) | 103 | 72.0% |
Electronical mail | 114 | 79.7% |
Other | 11 | 7.7% |
143 | ||
4. To what degree are you in favor of formal medical consulting for family members and friends? | ||
Strongly in favor/In favor | 38 | 26.6% |
Neutral reaction | 41 | 28.7% |
Not in favor/Strongly opposed | 64 | 44.8% |
143 | ||
5. To what degree are you in favor of informal medical consulting for family members and friends? | ||
Strongly in favor/In favor | 25 | 17.7% |
Neutral reaction | 51 | 36.2% |
Not in favor/Strongly opposed | 65 | 46.1% |
141 | (mis = 2) | |
6. Do you give informal consulting to family and friends? | ||
Yes, often | 77 | 53.8% |
Yes, under exceptional circumstances | 39 | 27.3% |
I try to avoid it/Never | 27 | 18.9% |
143 | ||
7. If you answered yes on the previous question, what type of consulting to you provide to family members and friends (more than one response can be selected)? | ||
Referrals to the emergency room | 66 | 46.5% |
Recommendation to medical specialists | 96 | 67.6% |
Prescriptions for drugs | 98 | 69.0% |
Interpretation of results of medical testing (blood tests, imaging, etc) | 115 | 81.0% |
Routine examinations | 31 | 21.8% |
Treatment in emergency situations | 72 | 50.7% |
Requests for a second opinion | 62 | 43.7% |
142 | (mis = 1) | |
8. How would you describe your feeling after providing such consultation? | ||
Satisfaction | 16 | 11.3% |
Indifference | 34 | 23.9% |
Discomfort | 70 | 49.3% |
Regret | 12 | 8.5% |
Other | 10 | 7.0% |
142 | (mis = 1) | |
9. What do you think are the main reasons that people turn to you informally rather than to their family physician? | ||
Savings in treatment costs | 3 | 2.2% |
Accessibility and availability | 116 | 83.5% |
Lack of trust in the public healthcare system | 16 | 11.5% |
Confidentiality | 4 | 2.9% |
139 | (mis = 4) | |
10. Did you ever refuse a request for informal consulting from a family member or a friend? | ||
Yes, always/Yes, most often | 10 | 7.0% |
Sometimes | 65 | 45.5% |
Usually not/ Never | 68 | 47.6% |
143 | ||
12. Did you every receive compensation (financial or other benefits) for medical treatment or from preferring informal medicine for a family member or friend? | ||
Yes | 22 | 15.4% |
No | 121 | 84.6% |
143 | ||
13. What do you think is the disadvantage of informal medicine (more than one response can be selected)? | ||
A lack of medical documentation | 121 | 85.2% |
Lack of the patient’s full consent | 30 | 21.1% |
Lack of objectivity | 88 | 62.0% |
The risk of unprofessionalism or negligence | 85 | 59.9% |
There are no particular disadvantages | 5 | 3.5% |
142 | (mis = 1) | |
14. Have you provided informal medicine by telephone or by text messaging? | ||
Yes | 137 | 95.8% |
No | 6 | 4.2% |
143 | ||
15. If you answered yes on the last question, what is your opinion regarding such? | ||
It’s legitimate/It’s not ideal, but adequate in certain situations | 72 | 51.1% |
It’s only suitable for emergency situations | 31 | 22.0% |
It’s problematic and best to avoid | 38 | 27.0% |
141 | (mis = 2) | |
16. No position paper exists at this time of an ethical committee regarding the provision of informal medicine to family members and friends. Do you think such position paper is needed? | ||
Yes | 94 | 66.2% |
No | 48 | 33.8% |
142 | (mis = 1) | |