Echocardiography: Guideline recommendations and options to identify inappropriate use as well as usage rate in Austria

Emprechtinger R
Record ID 32018000255
German
Original Title: Echokardiographie: Leitlinienempfehlungen und Möglichkeiten zur Identifikation von unangemessener Nutzung sowie Nutzungsverhalten in Österreich
Authors' objectives: Echocardiography is the central imaging examination in cardiology. It is free of direct adverse effects, widely available, and relatively cheap. Due to the increased use of echocardiographic examinations, concerns regarding the appropriateness are rising. Aim of the report at hand is to describe the use of echocardiography in Austria. Additionally, we review the international literature on the appropriateness of echocardiography.
Authors' results and conclusions: The fact that the percentage of repeated examinations grows exponentially with an increased rate of overall examinations may indicate inappropriate use. A detailed analysis of the data would result in a better impression of the appropriateness of echocardiographic examinations in Austria. For instance, an analysis of the rate of examinations in connection with indications that are often inappropriate might be useful. Since the aim is to improve medical care, a discussion with the stakeholders should be conducted.
Details
Project Status: Completed
URL for project: https://hta.lbg.ac.at/page/transthorakale-echokardiographie-nutzungsverhalten-in-oesterreich-und-leitlinienempfehlungen-zur-angemessenen-nutzung/en
Year Published: 2018
URL for published report: http://eprints.hta.lbg.ac.at/1158/1/HTA-Projektbericht_Nr.98.pdf
URL for additional information: http://eprints.hta.lbg.ac.at/1158/
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Full HTA
Country: Austria
MeSH Terms
  • Echocardiography
  • Health Services Research
  • Austria
  • Cardiology
Keywords
  • Echocardiography
  • appropriateness
  • geographic variation
  • health services research
  • quality
Contact
Organisation Name: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Health Technology Assessment
Contact Address: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for fuer Health Technology Assessment (LBI-HTA), Garnisongasse 7/rechte Stiege Mezzanin (Top 20), 1090 Vienna, Austria. Tel: +43 1 236 8119 - 0 Fax: +43 1 236 8119 - 99
Contact Name: tarquin.mittermayr@aihta.at
Contact Email: office@aihta.at
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.