Influence of educational interventions on the test ordering patterns of physicians

Menon D, Sommerhalder S
Record ID 31995000007
English, French
Authors' objectives:

To review studies in which specific educational interventions were used as a means of changing physician behaviour; requested by provincial governments.

Authors' results and conclusions: a) 6 of 9 trials in which cost information was provided to physicians demonstrated changes in behaviour following this. At best, the effect was reported as "transient"; b) In all 5 trials in which clinical appropriateness information was provided there was some improvement as a result; c) In 9 of 13 trials in which information on actual test ordering was provided, there was improvement, lasting from a month to 2 years; d) Of the 8 trials in which there were individual chart reviews and feedback, 5 showed reduced numbers of tests for a period of a few months; e) In the 4 trials in which the feedback included comparison of actual practice with establish guidelines, there was improvement, persisting for a few months.
Authors' recommendations: Physician behaviour can be modified by a wide variety of interventions, some of which are better and last longer than others. However, in general, results persist only over a short term. The "definitive" intervention model remains to be developed.
Authors' methods: Review
Details
Project Status: Completed
URL for project: https://www.ccohta.ca/
Year Published: 1992
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: Canada
MeSH Terms
  • Diagnostic Tests, Routine
  • Education, Medical
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians'
Contact
Organisation Name: Canadian Coordinating Office for Health Technology Assessment
Contact Address: 600-865 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1S 5S8 Canada. Tel: +1 613 226 2553, Fax: +1 613 226 5392;
Contact Name: requests@cadth.ca
Contact Email: requests@cadth.ca
Copyright: Canadian Coordinating Office for Health Technology Assessment(CCOHTA)
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.