Cost/effectiveness ratio of carcinoembryonic antigen--importance of adequacy of routine requests of tumor markers.
Since 1987 we have been evaluating the cost/effectiveness ratio of tumor markers using carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) as a leading indicator. Preliminary to the evaluation of cost/effectiveness ratio we verified the fitness of CEA requests to the proper clinical problems in order to identify any bias of cost due to inadequate CEA use. 2677 CEA orders were evaluated in 1987. The percentage of inadequate requests was very high (43%). Therefore, it seemed not advisable to carry out the evaluation of cost/effectiveness ratio, while educational actions (divulgation of informative material, service of telephone consultation) were addressed to the physicians of the geographic area of laboratory users. In 1991 the adequacy of CEA requests was reevaluated. The percentage of inadequate requests on 2647 orders was 29.4%. This result, although not yet satisfactory, suggests that proper educational programs may probably improve the fitness of tumor marker requests to correct clinical problems. Additional educational actions are mandatory to further reduce the rate of inadequate tumor marker orders.
Gion
M
M
Regional Center for the Study of Biochemical Tumor Markers, Ospedale Civile, U.S.L. 16, Venezia, Italy.
Rampazzo
A
A
Mione
R
R
Bruscagnin
G
G
D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen