Rather than say people are doing “to many” of any test, the discussion is usually around reducing variration.

Have a look at the Right Care Atlas of Variation in Diagnostic Services. http://www.rightcare.nhs.uk/index.php/atlas/diagnostics-the-nhs-atlas-of-variation-in-diagnostics-services/

If you use the interactive online version you can see data for investigations per 100,000 population across different organisations. You will have to see if there is data for the GI investigations your doctor is referring to.

Anne

Anne Gray

Knowledge Officer
Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit

Usual working days Tuesday – Friday
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Francis Crick House,

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From: UK medical/ health care library community / information workers [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Wendy Foster (Hywel Dda UHB - Knowledge Services Manager)
Sent: 18 November 2014 13:55
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Lit search help please

I have a GI doctor here who wants to know the number of investigations he can be expected to perform per head of population. He's heard the view that there is over-investigation, i.e. many tests are not warranted and there are far too many tests requested to justify the costs involved. Any suggestions?

I've rooted around in Medline and HMIC searching on GI tract, diagnostic tests, and so on, but so far only found one article from 1986.

Regards,

Wendy

Wendy Foster

Knowledge Services Manager / Rheolwr Gwasanaethau Gwybodaeth

Glangwili Library / Llyfrgell Glangwili

Hywel Dda University Health Board / Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda

West Wales General Hospital / Ysbyty Cyffredinol Gorllewin Cymru

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Tel / Rhif Ffon 01267 227076 or 07768 246817

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Search the Library catalogue here: http://library.cardiff.ac.uk/