Reducing Low-Value Care: Uncertainty as Crucial Cross-Cutting Theme; Comment on “Key Factors That Promote Low-Value Care: Views of Experts From the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands”

Document Type : Commentary

Authors

Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Medical Decision Making, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands

Abstract

Low-value care is increasingly recognized as a global problem that places strain on healthcare systems and has no quick fix. Verkerk et al have identified key factors promoting low-value care on a national level, proposed strategies to address these and create a healthcare system facilitating delivery of high-value care. In this commentary, we reflect on the results of Verkerk et al and argue that uncertainty has a crucial role when it comes to reducing low-value care. This uncertainty is reflected in lack of a shared view between stakeholders, with clear criteria and thresholds on what constitutes low-value care, and as cross-cutting theme related to the key factors identified. We suggest to work on such a shared view of low-value care and – different from implementation efforts – to explicitly address uncertainty and its driving cognitive biases grounded in human decision-making psychology, to reduce low-value care.

Keywords

  • epublished Author Accepted Version: March 12, 2022
  • epublished Final Version: March 15, 2022

References

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International Journal of Health Policy and Management
Volume 11, Issue 9
September 2022
Pages 1964-1966

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History

  • Receive Date: 17 December 2021
  • Revise Date: 01 March 2022
  • Accept Date: 09 March 2022
  • First Publish Date: 12 March 2022

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