Effect of feedback on test ordering behaviour of general practitioners

Abstract

Objective - To assess the effects of feedback on the test ordering behaviour of general practitioners. Design - Comparison of requests at two diagnostic centres, and internal comparison between tests which were discussed in feedback and tests which were not. Setting - A diagnostic centre in Maastricht giving feedback and another elsewhere in the Netherlands (laboratory A) not giving feedback. Subjects - All 85 general practitioners in the region of Maastricht, and all general practitioners in the region of laboratory A. Main outcome measures - Number of tests requested by general practitioners. Results - Requests at the Maastricht diagnostic centre decreased soon after the onset of feedback whereas there was a persistent increase in requests at laboratory A. Tests that were discussed showed the strongest decrease (maximum 40%), though tests that were not discussed decreased as well (maximum 27%). Conclusions - Feedback on diagnostic requests may exert a strong influence on request behaviour. Four years after the onset of feedback the effects were still noticeable.