More than one-third of radiology reports are not followed up by doctors, according to an Australian study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Researchers at the University of New South Wales in Australia conducted a database review to determine the extent of doctors' failure to follow up on test results, and its effect on patients. The team searched English language literature from Medline, CINAHL, Embase, Inspec, and the Cochrane Database for 1995 to 2010 (JGIM, October 2012, Vol. 27:10, pp. 1334-1348).
In all, 19 studies carried out in the U.S. were included in the review. The studies showed wide variation in the extent of radiology exams that weren't followed up, at 1% to 36%, according to lead author Joanne Callen, associate professor at the Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research, and colleagues. The variation was even higher for laboratory tests, ranging from 7% to 62%. The effect on patient outcomes included missed cancer diagnoses, Callen's team wrote.
Although the studies examined were conducted in the U.S., there is strong anecdotal evidence that there is a similar level of risk in Australia, according to Callen.
"In Australia, we need to consider every option, including regulation," she said in a statement. "Given the huge and rising costs of medical testing and the consequences of delayed treatment in terms of both patient suffering and healthcare dollars, there is good reason to act urgently."
