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Kherad O, Peiffer-Smadja N, Karlafti L, Lember M, Aerde NV, Gunnarsson O, Baicus C, Vieira MB, Vaz-Carneiro A, Brucato A, Lazurova I, Leśniak W, Hanslik T, Hewitt S, Papanicolaou E, Boeva O, Dicker D, Ivanovska B, Yldiz P, Lacor P, Cranston M, Weidanz F, Costantino G, Montano N. The challenge of implementing Less is More medicine: A European perspective. Eur J Intern Med 2020; 76:1-7. [PMID: 32303454 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2020.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The concept of Less is More medicine emerged in North America in 2010. It aims to serve as an invitation to recognize the potential risks of overuse of medical care that may result in harm rather than in better health, tackling the erroneous assumption that more care is always better. In response, several medical societies across the world launched quality-driven campaigns ("Choosing Wisely") and published "top-five lists" of low-value medical interventions that should be used to help make wise decisions in each clinical domain, by engaging patients in conversations about unnecessary tests, treatments and procedures. However, barriers and challenges for the implementation of Less is More medicine have been identified in several European countries, where overuse is rooted in the culture and demanded by a society that requests certainty at almost any cost. Patients' high expectations, physician's behavior, lack of monitoring and pernicious financial incentives have all indirect negative consequences for medical overuse. Multiple interventions and quality-measurement efforts are necessary to widely implement Less is More recommendations. These also consist of a top-five list of actions: (1) a novel cultural approach starting from medical graduation courses, up to (2) patient and society education, (3) physician behavior change with data feedback, (4) communication training and (5) policy maker interventions. In contrast with the prevailing maximization of care, the optimization of care promoted by Less is More medicine can be an intellectual challenge but also a real opportunity to promote sustainable medicine. This project will constitute part of the future agenda of the European Federation of Internal Medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Kherad
- Department of Internal Medicine, La Tour Hospital and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Nathan Peiffer-Smadja
- Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, Paris, France
| | - Lina Karlafti
- 1st Proedeutic Internal Medicine Clinic, AHEPA University Hospital of Thessaloniki, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Margus Lember
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tartu and University Hospital, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Nathalie Van Aerde
- Invited member of the Belgian Society of Internal Medicine, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Orvar Gunnarsson
- Department of Internal Medicine, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Cristian Baicus
- Department of Internal Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Colentina University Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Miguel Bigotte Vieira
- Serviço de Nefrologia, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central, Lisboa, Portugal; Centro de Estudos de Medicina Baseados na Evidência, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Centro Académico de Medicina de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Cochrane Portugal, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - António Vaz-Carneiro
- Centro de Estudos de Medicina Baseados na Evidência, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Centro Académico de Medicina de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Cochrane Portugal, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Antonio Brucato
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Ivica Lazurova
- PJ Safarik University I. Internal Clinic, Kosice, Slovakia
| | - Wiktoria Leśniak
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Thomas Hanslik
- Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Ambroise Paré, Paris, France
| | - Stephen Hewitt
- Medical Division, Department of Endocrinology, Morbid Obesity and Preventive Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Norway
| | | | - Olga Boeva
- Imaging Department, Stavropol State Medical University and Stavropol Territory Hospital, Russian Federation
| | - Dror Dicker
- Department of Internal Medicine, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel
| | - Biljana Ivanovska
- Private Health Organization, Office of Internal Medicine, Skopje, Macedonia
| | - Pinar Yldiz
- Department of Internal Medicine İstanbul, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir, Turkey
| | - Patrick Lacor
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectiology, Universitair Ziekenhuis, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Mark Cranston
- MBBS Hinchingbrooke Hospital, Huntingdon, United Kingdom
| | | | - Giorgio Costantino
- IRCCS Ca' Granda Foundation, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, and Department of Clinical Science and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Montano
- IRCCS Ca' Granda Foundation, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, and Department of Clinical Science and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
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