About Careers MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

Doctors Urge Fewer Routine Tests

by Sheela Philomena on April 5, 2012 at 8:55 AM
Font : A-A+

 Doctors Urge Fewer Routine Tests

In a bid to cut treatment costs, US doctors urge fewer tests for people with mild health conditions and less aggressive treatment for those with advanced cancers.

The recommendations by nine groups representing 374,000 physicians -- each listing "five things physicians and patients should question" -- were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine and are detailed at choosingwisely.org.

Advertisement

Among them, patients with advanced solid tumors who showed no benefit from prior therapies should not be given chemotherapy, because studies show cancer-directed treatments are likely to be ineffective and do not extend life.

Instead, the American Society of Clinical Oncology urged "appropriate palliative and supportive care."

Another recommendation involved avoiding high-tech scans for patients with early prostate or breast cancer that appears at low risk of spreading, because such scans can be expensive and show little benefit to the patient.
Advertisement

The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology urged physicians to take steps to lower patients' exposure to radiation whenever possible, and to avoid cardiac imaging scans in patients at low risk of heart failure.

Similarly, the American College of Physicians warned that electrocardiogram tests of heart function with no symptoms and low risk for heart disease do not improve patient outcomes.

Nor are CT and MRI scans needed for people with low back pain, or for people with fainting symptoms in absence of signs of seizure or other neurological signs, it said.

Colonoscopies could be done less often in patients who show no signs of disease, and pap smears are not needed annually in women under 21 or those who who have undergone a hysterectomy for non-cancerous reasons.

The American Academy of Family Physicians said doctors should not prescribe antibiotics for sinus infections unless they last more than seven days, because mild to moderate cases usually pass on their own.

"These lists represent specific, evidence-based recommendations physicians and patients should discuss to help make wise decisions about the most appropriate care based on their individual situation," said the report.

The project was a collaboration of the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation, Consumer Reports, and the nine medical specialty societies involved.

Source: AFP
Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Reading

Latest General Health News

More Than 300 People on Texas-Mexico Cruise Ship Fall Sick
Over 300 people had fallen sick with illness caused by Norovirus on a US cruise ship, say authorities.
 No Smoking Day 2023: Ex-smokers in Wakefield Lead the Campaign
Ex-smokers in Wakefield have shared their stories to encourage others to give up cigarettes on No Smoking Day 2023 which falls on 8th March.
New Protein Linked to Neurodegeneration
Total levels of m6A in the nervous system rise with age and that (some) neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by RNA hypermethylation.
How Stress Disrupts Maturation of Brain's Reward Circuits?
New study provides insights into the impact of early-life adversity on brain development and on control of reward behaviors that underlie emotional disorders
 Indonesia Partners With FIND for Diagnostic Testing Access Initiative
Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia signed a formal memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will expand access to essential diagnostics in the country.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Doctors Urge Fewer Routine Tests Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests