Laboratory investigations in general practice.
Forty-eight family physicians completed a 10-item questionnaire about their use of laboratory investigations, and "ordered" tests for five clinical vignettes, estimating the cost of tests ordered. Physicians practising less than 10 years ordered more tests and overestimated the cost. Patients' expectations and risk of litigation affected test-ordering behaviour. Strategies to manage resources dedicated to laboratory investigations are explored.
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Services Centre, Toronto.
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Salloum
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Franssen
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002568:Certification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008318:Malpractice / Q000639:trends; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009864:Ontario; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires