Physicians’ Perception of Unnecessary Test Ordering In the Health Care System of Pakistan; Nature of the Problem and the Solution to It
Hijab Batool, Nirmeen Maroof, Asim Mumtaz, A.S. Chughtai
Keywords: unnecessary laboratory testing, resources, physicians, patients
Abstract
Introduction: Healthcare resources have always been over-utilized in Pakistan for the last many decades. Ordering unnecessary laboratory tests is one of the ways by which our resources are wasted daily. Laboratory testing is an important element of modern-era clinical practice and includes outpatient diagnostic/screening tests and inpatient investigations for managing and monitoring disease
Objective: To highlight the issue of unnecessary testing in the healthcare department and the solution to this problem according to physicians’ perceptions
Methodology: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in the various hospitals of Lahore. A questionnaire was designed to find out physicians’ perceptions about the growing issue of unnecessary testing in the health system of Pakistan. A total of 125 consultants, postgraduate trainees, and house officers were included in this study
Results: The majority of participating doctors stated that many times during their clinical practice the patients themselves ask for an unnecessary test. Mostly physicians feel comfortable in telling the patients that a certain test they are asking for is not at all indicated and also explain the reason for it. Some of the study participants stated that they would prescribe unnecessary tests to patients if they were repeatedly asked for it. However, some of the doctors also stated that they would not prescribe the test at any cost. Almost all physicians believe that healthcare providers have to solve this problem
Conclusion: In our study physicians perceive the issue of unnecessary testing as a serious one and feel responsibility towards this issue
Keywords: unnecessary laboratory testing, resources, physicians, patients