[Quality Assurance using routine data: Overdiagnosis by radiological imaging for back pain]. / Überdiagnostik mit Bildgebung bei Rückenschmerzen.
Dtsch Med Wochenschr
; 141(10): e96-e103, 2016 May.
Article
in De
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-27176071
ABSTRACT
UNLABELLED Background and Problem:
Acute nonspecific back pain disorders are typically self-limiting. According to the national guideline low back pain, only in case of clinical suspicion of a serious course radiological imaging should take place immediately. Otherwise, the guideline recommends waiting at least six weeks. PATIENTS ANDMETHODOLOGY:
Using Statutory Health Insurance (SHI) routine data of the Techniker Krankenkasse we analyzed how many of the insured persons suffering from acute back pain for the first time with no indication of a serious outcome received a non-indicated diagnostic imaging.RESULTS:
In about 10 % diagnostic imaging is conducted after initial diagnosis. If an imaging is carried out, roughly one third of these cases takes place ahead of time or is completely unnecessary. Methodically this is a very conservative estimation, thus it seems likely that the extent of overdiagnosis in actual medical care situation is even larger.CONCLUSIONS:
Every third patient who received radiological diagnostics due to first acute nonspecific back pain underwent the procedure more quickly than recommended (less than six weeks). Overdiagnosis is not only economically problematic but also with respect to patient orientation and patient safety. It may cause substantial damage to patients - either by the use of diagnostics itself or by means of therapies initiated after diagnostics.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Quality Assurance, Health Care
/
Back Pain
/
Medical Overuse
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Etiology_studies
/
Guideline
/
Health_economic_evaluation
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
De
Journal:
Dtsch Med Wochenschr
Year:
2016
Type:
Article