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Overtesting and overtreatment—statement from the European Academy of Paediatrics (EAP)

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Abstract

Child health has improved considerably, partly due to increased availability of appropriate disease surveillance and treatment. Inappropriate testing and treatment may impose a risk. There is a large and unexplained variation in the use of tests and treatments for children between and within countries. This suggests that non-scientific factors determine their use. In an era of increasing availability of health services, pediatricians have an important role in balancing risks and benefits of available tests and treatments. Examples from the medical literature of overtesting and overtreatment challenge us to reconsider current practices. Antibiotic overuse, overtreatment of bronchiolitis, and non-indicated radiological procedures are found in common practice across Europe. Choosing Wisely is an initiative to improve the quality of care by reducing unnecessary testing and treatment.

Conclusion: Clinicians have the challenge to find the optimal balance between too much and too little medicine—just appropriate.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway

    Ketil Størdal

  2. Ostfold Hospital Trust, Grålum, Norway

    Ketil Størdal

  3. Kinderaerzte KurWerk, Poststrasse 9, 3400, Burgdorf, Switzerland

    Corinne Wyder

  4. Department of Paediatrics, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    Corinne Wyder

  5. Department of Neonatology, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria

    Andreas Trobisch

  6. Maccabi Healthcare Services, Pediatric clinic, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Zachi Grossman

  7. Department of Paediatrics, Larnaca General Hospital, Larnaca, Cyprus

    Adamos Hadjipanayis

  8. Medical School, European University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus

    Adamos Hadjipanayis

  9. European Academy of Paediatrics, Brussels, Belgium

    Adamos Hadjipanayis

Authors
  1. Ketil Størdal
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  2. Corinne Wyder
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  3. Andreas Trobisch
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  4. Zachi Grossman
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  5. Adamos Hadjipanayis
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Contributions

Dr. Størdal drafted the manuscript, performed literature search, and approved the final version.

Drs. Wyder, Trobisch, and Grossman contributed with comments in the writing process and approved the final version.

Dr. Hadjipanayis had the original idea of the statement, contributed with comments in the writing process, and approved the final version.

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Correspondence to Ketil Størdal.

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Størdal, K., Wyder, C., Trobisch, A. et al. Overtesting and overtreatment—statement from the European Academy of Paediatrics (EAP). Eur J Pediatr 178, 1923–1927 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-019-03461-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-019-03461-1

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