Reducing the number of T3 orders in the Paris hospital network: towards better appropriatness of thyroid function test prescription.
Ann Endocrinol (Paris)
; 64(3): 210-5, 2003 Jun.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-12910064
ABSTRACT
In vitro thyroid function tests are among the most frequently prescribed laboratory procedures. Serum triiodothyronine (T3) tests are seldom necessary as a first-level measurement. Our objectives were to measure the proportion of T3 measurements relative to all in vitro thyroid function tests in a large hospital network and to investigate the contributions of various interventions to change prescribers'behavior. We performed two cross-sectional surveys in 1995 and 1998 in the 50 Paris University hospitals. Questionnaires were mailed to the heads of the 30 laboratories performing thyroid function tests. One-month orders of free and total thyroxine, free and total T3 and thyrotropin were recorded; changes in T3 measurement orders between the two periods were estimated and association with interventions were expressed as odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Twenty-five heads of laboratory responded to both surveys. In 1995, T3 measurements constituted 21% of in vitro thyroid function test ordering, which seems to us exceedingly high. The decrease in T3 measurement ordering observed in 1998 (15% of thyroid function test ordering) was independently associated with multiple behavioral changes educational interventions, structured test form use and year of prescription.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Thyroid Function Tests
/
Triiodothyronine
Type of study:
Qualitative_research
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
En
Journal:
Ann Endocrinol (Paris)
Year:
2003
Document type:
Article