Requisição de Análises de “Rotina” em Medicina Geral e Familiar: Um Estudo Observacional Transversal Analítico Baseado na Prática em Portugal

Margarida Gil Conde; Raquel Carmona Ramos; Ana Rente; Carina Afonso; Cristina Jesus Henriques; Rita Grossinho Reis

doi:10.20344/amp.12653

“Routine” Laboratory Test Requests in Family Medicine: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on Clinical Practice in Portugal

Authors

Margarida Gil Conde Unidade de Saúde Familiar Vasco da Gama, Agrupamentos de Centros de Saúde Lisboa Central. Administração Regional de Saúde de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo. Lisboa. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9367-5899
Raquel Carmona Ramos Unidade de Saúde Familiar Vasco da Gama, Agrupamentos de Centros de Saúde Lisboa Central. Administração Regional de Saúde de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo. Lisboa.
Ana Rente Unidade de Cuidados Saúde Personalizados Olivais. Agrupamentos de Centros de Saúde Lisboa Central. Administração Regional de Saúde de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo. Lisboa.
Carina Afonso Unidade de Saúde Familiar Artemisa. Agrupamentos de Centros de Saúde Cascais. Administração Regional de Saúde de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo. Lisboa.
Cristina Jesus Henriques Unidade de Saúde Familiar Sétima Colina. Agrupamentos de Centros de Saúde Lisboa Central. Administração Regional de Saúde de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo. Lisboa.
Rita Grossinho Reis Unidade de Saúde Familiar Santa Maria. Agrupamentos de Centros de Saúde Médio Tejo. Administração Regional de Saúde de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo. Tomar.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.12653

Keywords:

Clinical Laboratory Techniques, Diagnostic Tests, Routine, Family Practice, Portugal, Practice Patterns, Physicians

Abstract

Introduction: In Portugal, patients still believe they should perform a periodic check-up. The present study was designed to study the prescription pattern of “routine” laboratory tests in the Family practice in Portugal.
Material and Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study in the Portuguese primary healthcare setting. We surveyed physicians on their “routine” laboratory test request pattern and the reasons for requesting or not requesting laboratory tests. The questions were based on the panel of the most prescribed tests in the of Central Lisbon health centre group.
Results: Most of the inquired doctors said they requested “routine” laboratory tests (51.4%). There is a significant difference in the request of “routine” laboratory tests performed by trainees or specialists (p = 0.013). The most requested laboratory tests in adults are total cholesterol (92.2%) and blood glucose while the most requested laboratory tests in children are blood glucose, total cholesterol and full blood count. Many doctors (79.4%) that request “routine” laboratory tests do so to perform screening and the doctors that do not request routine” laboratory tests do so mainly (80.8%) because there’s lack of scientific evidence.
Discussion: We found differences in the prescription pattern of Family Physicians in Portugal, namely regarding the request of “routine” laboratory tests by doctors from different regions, degrees of specialization and age. We found that there is an association between prescribing “routine” laboratory tests and their request for screening. These physicians aparently want to track different types of pathology, even though patients have no symptoms or risks that could justify it. Most doctors, who do not prescribe “routine” laboratory tests, do not agree with screening for asymptomatic individuals, which is consistent with the evidence.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that there is an excessive request of laboratory tests which can lead to overdiagnosis and overtreatment that requires global Social Marketing strategies to change the prevailing culture.

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Published

2020-10-01

How to Cite

Conde MG, Ramos RC, Rente A, Afonso C, Henriques CJ, Reis RG. “Routine” Laboratory Test Requests in Family Medicine: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on Clinical Practice in Portugal. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2020 Oct. 1 [cited 2024 Dec. 22];33(10):657-63. Available from: https://actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/12653

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Issue

Vol. 33 No. 10 (2020): October

Section

Original

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