OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of feedback on the test ordering behaviour of general practitioners. DESIGN: Comparison of requests at two diagnostic centres, and internal comparison between tests which were discussed in feedback and tests which were not. SETTING: A diagnostic centre in Maastricht giving feedback and another elsewhere in the Netherlands (laboratory A) not giving feedback. SUBJECTS: All 85 general practitioners in the region of Maastricht, and all general practitioners in the region of laboratory A. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Numbers of tests requested by general practitioners. RESULTS: Requests at the Maastricht diagnostic centre decreased soon after the onset of feedback whereas there was a persistent increase in requests at laboratory A. Tests that were discussed showed the strongest decrease (maximum 40%), though tests that were not discussed decreased as well (maximum 27%). CONCLUSIONS: Feedback on diagnostic requests may exert a strong influence on request behaviour. Four years after the onset of feedback the effects were still noticeable.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of feedback on the test ordering behaviour of general practitioners. DESIGN: Comparison of requests at two diagnostic centres, and internal comparison between tests which were discussed in feedback and tests which were not. SETTING: A diagnostic centre in Maastricht giving feedback and another elsewhere in the Netherlands (laboratory A) not giving feedback. SUBJECTS: All 85 general practitioners in the region of Maastricht, and all general practitioners in the region of laboratory A. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Numbers of tests requested by general practitioners. RESULTS: Requests at the Maastricht diagnostic centre decreased soon after the onset of feedback whereas there was a persistent increase in requests at laboratory A. Tests that were discussed showed the strongest decrease (maximum 40%), though tests that were not discussed decreased as well (maximum 27%). CONCLUSIONS: Feedback on diagnostic requests may exert a strong influence on request behaviour. Four years after the onset of feedback the effects were still noticeable.
Authors: F G Fowkes; E R Davies; K T Evans; G Green; G Hartley; A E Hugh; D J Nolan; A L Power; C J Roberts; J Roylance Journal: Lancet Date: 1986-02-15 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: C J McDonald; S L Hui; D M Smith; W M Tierney; S J Cohen; M Weinberger; G P McCabe Journal: Ann Intern Med Date: 1984-01 Impact factor: 25.391
Authors: Daisy Fung; Inge Schabort; Catherine A MacLean; Farhan M Asrar; Ayesha Khory; Ben Vandermeer; G Michael Allan Journal: Can Fam Physician Date: 2015-03 Impact factor: 3.275