But, half of physicians have ordered unneeded tests for pushy patients, survey found.
(HealthDay)—Most physicians believe that doctors order too many medical tests, yet half admit to doing so themselves in response to a pushy patient, a new survey shows.
"Old habits are hard to break, but this research suggests that America's physicians are slowly making progress in efforts to reduce unnecessary care," said Dr. Richard Baron, president and CEO of the ABIM Foundation, the organization responsible for the study. "Avoiding unnecessary medical care is important because care that is not needed can be harmful to patients, and unnecessary care raises health care costs for everyone."
The survey of 600 physicians, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, found that more than half of physicians think doctors are best equipped to solve the problem of unnecessary tests. Just 15 percent of doctors surveyed felt the government could address the problem.
About three-fourths of doctors think the number of unneeded tests and procedures is a very serious or somewhat serious problem. Two-thirds think they have a great amount of responsibility to help patients avoid such tests and procedures.
Seventy-two percent of those surveyed said the typical medical doctor prescribes an unneeded test or procedure at least once a week, according to the survey.
Nearly half of the doctors said that a patient asks for an unnecessary test or procedure at least once a week. Seventy percent of physicians said that when they explain why a test or procedure is unnecessary, their patients usually avoid the test. Still, 53 percent of physicians said they'd ordered an unnecessary test when a patient insists.
The survey was part of the ABIM Foundation's Choosing Wisely initiative, which urges doctors and patients to avoid overused and inappropriate tests.
"It is a promising sign that an increasing number of physicians are accepting responsibility for reducing unnecessary medical care delivered in the United States," said Dr. John Lumpkin, senior vice president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, in a statement provided by the ABIM Foundation. "Conversations between doctors and patients about what care really is and isn't necessary have always been hard. Only by shedding light on these issues, and being transparent about which tests and procedures might not be needed, will we help create a sustainable culture of health in America."
Explore further: Stimulating discussion over unnecessary medical tests, procedures: Choosing Wisely Canada
More information: For more about the Choosing Wisely program, visit the ABIM Foundation.
Copyright © 2014 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Medical Xpress on facebook
Related Stories
Stimulating discussion over unnecessary medical tests, procedures: Choosing Wisely Canada
Feb 18, 2014
Physicians and patients should talk about unnecessary medical tests, treatments and procedures so that they can make smart and effective care choices and avoid potential for harm, writes Dr. Wendy Levinson in a commentary ...
Doctors often uncertain in ordering, interpreting lab tests
Mar 10, 2014
A survey of primary care physicians suggests they often face uncertainty in ordering and interpreting clinical laboratory tests, and would welcome better electronic clinical decision support tools.
Physician groups call for fewer medical tests
Apr 04, 2012
(HealthDay) -- Nine physician specialty groups have created lists of common tests or procedures that they believe are often overused or unnecessary, to help doctors and patients make wiser decisions about ...
ACP launches High Value Care Coordination Toolkit
Apr 11, 2014
The American College of Physicians (ACP) today unveiled a High Value Care Coordination Toolkit designed to enable more effective and patient-centered communication between primary care and subspecialist doctors.
List of five unnecessary vascular tests released
Feb 26, 2013
(HealthDay)—The Society for Vascular Medicine (SVM) has published "Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question" in vascular medicine, a list of five tests and procedures that are commonly used but ...
Recommended for you
Low self-rating of social status predicts heart disease risk
3 hours ago
How a person defines their own socioeconomic standing (SES) within their community can help predict their risk of cardiovascular disease, but only among Whites, not Blacks, finds a recent study in Ethnicity ...
European hospitals compare notes on pain management to improve care
3 hours ago
Comparing data between hospitals across Europe helps health care professionals better manage patients' pain.
Study finds women going through menopause need to be better supported at work
4 hours ago
All women go through the menopause, and most women work, so how does the menopause affect women at work? This is the question asked by a group of researchers at La Trobe University and Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. ...
Undocumented immigrants use fewer health services than US-born residents
6 hours ago
Undocumented immigrants in California see the doctor and visit emergency rooms significantly less often than U.S. citizens and documented immigrants, according to a study by the UCLA Center for Health Policy ...
GaitTrack app makes cellphone a medical monitor for heart, lung patients
6 hours ago
(Medical Xpress)—By simply carrying around their cellphones, patients who suffer from chronic disease could soon have an accurate health monitor that warns their doctors when their symptoms worsen.
Racist attitudes and beliefs affect medical treatment of US minority groups
7 hours ago
Patients from minority ethnic groups in the US may be facing racist attitudes and beliefs that can unintentionally affect their treatment, a review of healthcare providers has found.
User comments
© Medical Xpress 2011-2014, Science X network
But, half of physicians have ordered unneeded tests for pushy patients, survey found.
(HealthDay)—Most physicians believe that doctors order too many medical tests, yet half admit to doing so themselves in response to a pushy patient, a new survey shows.
"Old habits are hard to break, but this research suggests that America's physicians are slowly making progress in efforts to reduce unnecessary care," said Dr. Richard Baron, president and CEO of the ABIM Foundation, the organization responsible for the study. "Avoiding unnecessary medical care is important because care that is not needed can be harmful to patients, and unnecessary care raises health care costs for everyone."
The survey of 600 physicians, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, found that more than half of physicians think doctors are best equipped to solve the problem of unnecessary tests. Just 15 percent of doctors surveyed felt the government could address the problem.
About three-fourths of doctors think the number of unneeded tests and procedures is a very serious or somewhat serious problem. Two-thirds think they have a great amount of responsibility to help patients avoid such tests and procedures.
Seventy-two percent of those surveyed said the typical medical doctor prescribes an unneeded test or procedure at least once a week, according to the survey.
Nearly half of the doctors said that a patient asks for an unnecessary test or procedure at least once a week. Seventy percent of physicians said that when they explain why a test or procedure is unnecessary, their patients usually avoid the test. Still, 53 percent of physicians said they'd ordered an unnecessary test when a patient insists.
The survey was part of the ABIM Foundation's Choosing Wisely initiative, which urges doctors and patients to avoid overused and inappropriate tests.
"It is a promising sign that an increasing number of physicians are accepting responsibility for reducing unnecessary medical care delivered in the United States," said Dr. John Lumpkin, senior vice president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, in a statement provided by the ABIM Foundation. "Conversations between doctors and patients about what care really is and isn't necessary have always been hard. Only by shedding light on these issues, and being transparent about which tests and procedures might not be needed, will we help create a sustainable culture of health in America."
Explore further: Stimulating discussion over unnecessary medical tests, procedures: Choosing Wisely Canada
More information: For more about the Choosing Wisely program, visit the ABIM Foundation.
Copyright © 2014 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Medical Xpress on facebook
Related Stories
Stimulating discussion over unnecessary medical tests, procedures: Choosing Wisely Canada
Feb 18, 2014
Physicians and patients should talk about unnecessary medical tests, treatments and procedures so that they can make smart and effective care choices and avoid potential for harm, writes Dr. Wendy Levinson in a commentary ...
Doctors often uncertain in ordering, interpreting lab tests
Mar 10, 2014
A survey of primary care physicians suggests they often face uncertainty in ordering and interpreting clinical laboratory tests, and would welcome better electronic clinical decision support tools.
Physician groups call for fewer medical tests
Apr 04, 2012
(HealthDay) -- Nine physician specialty groups have created lists of common tests or procedures that they believe are often overused or unnecessary, to help doctors and patients make wiser decisions about ...
ACP launches High Value Care Coordination Toolkit
Apr 11, 2014
The American College of Physicians (ACP) today unveiled a High Value Care Coordination Toolkit designed to enable more effective and patient-centered communication between primary care and subspecialist doctors.
List of five unnecessary vascular tests released
Feb 26, 2013
(HealthDay)—The Society for Vascular Medicine (SVM) has published "Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question" in vascular medicine, a list of five tests and procedures that are commonly used but ...
Recommended for you
Low self-rating of social status predicts heart disease risk
3 hours ago
How a person defines their own socioeconomic standing (SES) within their community can help predict their risk of cardiovascular disease, but only among Whites, not Blacks, finds a recent study in Ethnicity ...
European hospitals compare notes on pain management to improve care
3 hours ago
Comparing data between hospitals across Europe helps health care professionals better manage patients' pain.
Study finds women going through menopause need to be better supported at work
4 hours ago
All women go through the menopause, and most women work, so how does the menopause affect women at work? This is the question asked by a group of researchers at La Trobe University and Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. ...
Undocumented immigrants use fewer health services than US-born residents
6 hours ago
Undocumented immigrants in California see the doctor and visit emergency rooms significantly less often than U.S. citizens and documented immigrants, according to a study by the UCLA Center for Health Policy ...
GaitTrack app makes cellphone a medical monitor for heart, lung patients
6 hours ago
(Medical Xpress)—By simply carrying around their cellphones, patients who suffer from chronic disease could soon have an accurate health monitor that warns their doctors when their symptoms worsen.
Racist attitudes and beliefs affect medical treatment of US minority groups
7 hours ago
Patients from minority ethnic groups in the US may be facing racist attitudes and beliefs that can unintentionally affect their treatment, a review of healthcare providers has found.
User comments
© Medical Xpress 2011-2014, Science X network
0 comments:
Post a Comment