Choosing wisely
Information barriers
A new report has looked at why unnecessary medical tests and treatments are carried out GPs, specialists and hospital staff cite challenges in accessing patient information from other clinicians as …
Benzos no good for low back pain
Australians seeking relief from low back pain are being urged not to use benzodiazepines as part of their treatment Choosing Wisely Australia has released five new recommendations around pain management, …
Doctors’ dud beliefs
Doctors’ own biases could keep them suggesting tests and treatments that aren’t worth it The impact of campaigns to reduce low value care in medicine, such as Choosing Wisely Australia …
Contradictory attitudes on testing
Many people still want their doctors to conduct all available tests related to their condition regardless of need, according to a new report from Choosing Wisely Australia The Choosing Wisely …
Choosing Wisely questions more tests
The latest recommendations from Australia’s medical experts on the screening, testing and treatment of a range of common health conditions have today been released under the Choosing Wisely Australia initiative. …
Tackling the ‘prescribing cascade’ in seniors
Older Australians may not be aware that they are on a ‘prescribing cascade’, where they take one medicine and have an adverse reaction, so are put on another medicine, says …
Five key medicines priorities
The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia, the first pharmacy organisation to join the world-wide Choosing Wisely initiative, today gave full support to Choosing Wisely Australia: The Next Wave and …
61 tests, treatments that could cause harm
The Choosing Wisely Australia campaign has today released 61 recommendations of tests, treatments and procedures that may not be necessary and could cause harm to Australian patients. The 61 recommendations …
Older people’s treatment choices: finding a balance
Increasing older patients’ agency in their own health care needs to be balanced against the issues this raises, writes Ben Basger Older patients often relate their treatment experiences and choices. …
Time to question unnecessary testing: Choosing Wisely
Last night’s ABC Four Corners program investigating unnecessary testing and treatments was a timely reminder of the need for both clinicians and consumers to question low-value care in the Australian …
Health professional groups join Choosing Wisely
More colleges and societies have joined Choosing Wisely Australia, an initiative that is addressing unnecessary practices and questioning tests, treatments and procedures of proven low value. The number of participating …
SHPA welcomes Choosing Wisely decision
The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia has welcomed Australia’s having joined Choosing Wisely, a global initiative that aims to reduce wasteful medical tests, treatments and procedures. This initiative, coordinated …