More is not always better when it comes to healthcare

This toolkit has been specifically developed to help Junior Medical Officers (JMOs) and students with implementing projects aligned with Choosing Wisely principles. It contains support material to help guide each stage of a Choosing Wisely project.

Fertility treatment, including IVF, can take months or even years, and it doesn’t always work. It can be difficult for people to make decisions about which tests, treatments and add-ons will improve the chance of a baby. There are many options available that have little or no evidence to support them. The Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority (VARTA) has adopted Choosing Wisely’s 5 Questions to help people make informed choices about the most effective treatments.

In July 2021, during the COVID-19 response at the Wollongong Hospital A5 ward, we noted pathology testing for COVID-19 patients was far greater than the average patient, and unnecessary in many cases. A Choosing Wisely program of guideline development, education and support saw an 81% reduction in tests ordered, increasing patient safety and comfort with no adverse impact on patient care.

Darling Downs Health used the Choosing Wisely 5 Questions to help their rural patients ask questions of their healthcare teams, however, feedback made it clear that local doctors wanted support to help respond. The program was broadened to include medical staff and a printable resource was created to support health professionals have these discussions with their patients. Early evidence suggests this has led to an even stronger program with increased benefits for both patients and doctors.

In the Intensive Care Unit, blood tests and chest radiographs are usually requested on a routine, time-scheduled basis, and many may be unnecessary. The Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth has developed a replacement protocol to reduce unnecessary tests and will evaluate and optimise this protocol in a large clinical study.

An audit at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital found that 41% of all pre-operative pathology tests ordered before elective surgery were unnecessary. A Choosing Wisely program introduced at the hospital to address this issue started with urology procedures, and has seen significant improvements.

To empower Aboriginal peoples in their conversations about their care, East Metropolitan Health Service adapted and translated the Choosing Wisely 5 Questions into the Whadjuk Noongar language, the local dialect. Use the five questions to make sure you receive the right amount of care.

Blood tests ordered that do not provide information that change treatment or patient outcomes are unnecessary, bring inconvenience for patients, increase medical staff workload, and add extra costs. As part of their Choosing Wisely work, Shellharbour Hospital has introduced an education program to support junior medical officers (JMOs) choosing blood tests wisely.

Blood cultures are used to detect blood stream bacterial infections and are essential to tailor antibiotic therapy. However, repeated blood cultures for a patient who is stable, has already had blood cultures taken and antibiotics started, are unlikely to change treatment or diagnosis. Therefore, to reduce waste, and patient discomfort, take blood cultures wisely.

A guide to managing pain and opioid medicines for children, young people and their parents

Chronic wounds represent a significant burden to patients and the healthcare system, and can result in significant functional impairment, reduction in quality of life and large financial costs (around 2% of total health expenditure in Australia). The Choosing Wound Care Wisely project from Mackay Hospital and Health Service (Mackay HHS) in Queensland is about ensuring wound treatment is appropriate to the cause and condition of a wound, maximising clinical effectiveness, reducing patient risk, minimising cost and facilitating patient choice where possible.

On behalf of NPS MedicineWise, Choosing Wisely Australia invites you to our 2022 National Meeting to be held on 3 May 2022.

Choosing Wisely Week is an opportunity to promote projects being implemented by Choosing Wisely members and supports the reduction of unnecessary tests, treatments and procedures. We have developed a toolkit to assist members and supporters, particularly Champion Health Services, to promote local projects.

Encouraging health consumers to initiate conversations about their health care can start by building a culture where it is comfortable to ask questions. Choosing Wisely research has found that giving health consumers permission to ask questions is an important place to start. We’ve developed some resources for health services to demonstrate their health professionals are ready to listen.