Low-Value Testing in Low-Risk Primary Care Patients

The Choosing Wisely campaign makes recommendations for reducing low-value care (i.e., services that do not improve outcomes). In this study from Ontario, Canada, researchers used claims data to determine the extent of downstream intervention after three low-value screening tests targeted by Choosing Wisely. Low-risk patients who underwent these tests (as part of annual health exams conducted between 2012 and 2016) were compared with propensity-matched unscreened patients.

Findings were as follows (expressed as additional interventions per 100 patients at 90 days, compared with controls):

• Chest x-rays in adults at low risk for cardiovascular or pulmonary disease were associated with an additional 0.9 pulmonary consultations and 2.0 computed to…