"Choosing Wisely Canada" and antimicrobial stewardship: A shared focus on reducing unnecessary care.

ABSTRACT

There is a growing movement in medicine which recognizes that some tests, treatments or procedures do not add value for patients, and may even cause harm. The "Choosing Wisely Canada" campaign is a grassroots, physician-led campaign to engage physicians and patients in conversations about overuse of unnecessary tests, treatments and procedures to improve the quality of health care. This article reviews the underlying principles of this campaign and its spread across Canada. It also highlights the alignment between the principles of Choosing Wisely Canada with those of antimicrobial stewardship, which share similar motivations, challenges and opportunities.