Peiffer-Smadja N, Bauvois A, Chilles M, Gramont B, Maatoug R, Bismut M, Thorey C, Oziol E, Hanslik T. The French Society of Internal Medicine's Top-5 List of Recommendations: a National Web-Based Survey.
J Gen Intern Med 2019;
34:1475-1485. [PMID:
31190258 PMCID:
PMC6667601 DOI:
10.1007/s11606-019-05050-2]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Revised: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The international project "Choosing Wisely" aims to target unnecessary and potentially harmful examinations and treatments.
OBJECTIVE
To define the French Internal Medicine Top-5 list.
DESIGN
Based on a review of existing Top-5 lists and personal experience, a working group of the French National Society of Internal Medicine selected 27 diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. They were submitted through a national web-based survey to French internists who rated from 1 to 5 the perceived frequency, uselessness, and risk of each procedure. A composite score was calculated as the unweighted addition of the three scores.
PARTICIPANTS
Four hundred thirty internists answered the web-based survey (14% of all French internists including residents). All the French regions and status of the profession were represented.
KEY RESULTS
For the 27 submitted procedures, the mean score (± SD) was 3.25 (± 0.48) for frequency, 3.10 (± 0.43) for uselessness, and 2.63 (± 0.84) for risk. The Top-5 list obtained with the composite score was as follows: 1. Do not prescribe long-term treatment with proton pump inhibitors without regular reevaluation of the indication 2. Do not administer preventive treatments (e.g., for dyslipidemia, hypertension…) in elderly people with dementia when potential risks outweigh the benefits 3. Do not administer hypnotic medications as first-line treatment for insomnia 4. Do not treat with an anticoagulant for more than 3 months a patient with a first venous thromboembolism occurring in the setting of a major transient risk factor 5. Do not screen for Lyme disease without an exposure history or related clinical examination findings We found that the composite score was strongly correlated to the risk score (rs = 0.88, p < 10-5) and not to the frequency (rs = 0.06, p = 0.75) or uselessness score (rs = 0.17, p = 0.38).
CONCLUSIONS
This Top-5 list provides an opportunity to discuss appropriate use of health care practices in internal medicine.
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