Table 2 Descriptive analysis of different items such as factors influencing GPs’ actions, fears of legal consequences and risk of error and lawsuit

Factors influencing GPs’ actions

Fears of legal consequences*

3.50 (1.41)

3.37; 3.64

Legal requirements*

4.29 (1.25)

4.17; 4.41

Factors influencing fears of legal consequences

Estimation of the likelihood of being sued in a job-related civil action in the next 10 years*

3.06 (1.38)

2.92; 3.19

Already once a conciliation procedure

1.82 (0.39)

1.78; 1.85

Sued once already

1.84 (0.37)

1.80; 1.88

Knowledge of a colleague who has been sued

1.34 (0.47)

1.29; 1.39

Physician-patient relationship*

4.16 (1.53)

4.00; 4.30

Legal requirements*

4.29 (1.25)

4.17; 4.41

Legal protection/ safeguard*

3.84 (1.39)

3.69; 3.98

Pressure from patients*

3.55 (1.37)

3.40; 3.68

Pressure from relatives*

3.28 (1.41)

3.14; 3.42

Peer pressure*

1.94 (1.29)

1.80; 2.07

Gender

1.50 (0.50.)

1.45; 1.55

Age

49.5 (10.50)

48.45; 0.56

Professional title

2.98 (0.67)

2.92; 3.05

Urban or rural

1.43 (0.48)

1.38; 1.48

Professional experience

2.41 (1.19)

2.29; 2.53

Self-employed or employed

1.25 (0.43)

1.20; 1.29

Factor influencing the risk of errors

Defensive medicine**

3.62 (1.31)

3.49; 3.75

Factors influencing the risk of lawsuit

Defensive medicine***

2.68 (1.07)

2.57; 2.78

Orientation on guidelines*

4.47 (1.29)

4.34; 4.59