Australian researchers found physicians often underestimate the harm and overestimate the benefits of common drugs, procedures and tests, according to The Age.
In the analysis, researchers evaluated 48 studies looking at more than 13,000 providers spanning the United States, Europe and Australia.
Here are three points:
1. Providers failed to accurately estimate different medical interventions' risk of harm 87 percent of the time.
2. When surveyed about various common tests and medications, physicians did not accurately assess the likelihood a patient would experience benefits 89 percent of the time.
3. Based on these findings, researchers concluded providers' expectations regarding interventions' benefits and harms can impact patient care.
