Defensive Medicine in Neurosurgery: The Sub-Saharan Africa Experience.

Abstract

This study investigates the prevalence and determinants of defensive medicine among neurosurgeons in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It examines how economic, cultural, and legal factors unique to SSA influence these practices, providing insights to guide regional policy-making and medical education. A cross-sectional survey of 71 neurosurgeons in SSA was conducted via WhatsApp, LinkedIn, and conferences. The questionnaire, adapted to the SSA context from a Canadian study, explored demographics, practice types, liability profiles, defensive behaviors, and perceptions of the medicolegal environment. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics in R software. Among 71 respondents, 91.5% were men, and 29.6% were undergoing residency or fellowship training. All respondents reported engaging in at least 1 defensive medical behavior, with varying degrees of frequency. Common strategies included patient discussions (24.2%) and specialist referrals (16.7%). Economic and resource limitations constrained practices such as ordering imaging (17.5%) and prescribing medications (10.8%). Despite perceived medicolegal risks, 93% of participants reported no lawsuits in the past 3 years. Defensive medicine among neurosurgeons in SSA is less prevalent and intense than in high-income regions. Unique economic constraints, cultural norms, and weaker legal pressures limit defensive behaviors. These findings highlight the need for context-specific policies and educational strategies to balance medicolegal risk management with resource limitations in SSA.