Physicians' Attitudes About Unnecessary Tests, Procedures: 6 Key Findings

Around 72 percent of physicians say the average physician prescribes an unnecessary test or procedure at least once a week, according to a survey released by the ABIM Foundation.

Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the survey looks at attitudes of physicians regarding the overuse of medical services in the country. The survey includes responses from 600 U.S. physicians and was conducted between February 12 and March 21.

Here are five key findings from the survey:

•    Seventy-three percent of physicians report that the frequency of unnecessary tests and procedures is a serious problem.
•    Sixty-six percent of physicians feel they have a great deal of responsibility to make sure their patients avoid unnecessary tests and procedures.
•    Fifty-three percent of physicians say that even if they know a medical test is unnecessary, they order it if a patient insists.
•    Forty-seven percent of physicians say their patients ask for an unnecessary test or procedure at least once a week.
•    Seventy percent of physicians say that after they speak with a patient about why a test or procedure is unnecessary, the patient often avoids it.

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