Research suggests a high proportion of melanoma in situ (MIS) may be overdiagnosed, potentially contributing to overtreatment, patient harm and inflated costs for individuals and healthcare systems. However, Australia-wide estimates of the magnitude of melanoma overdiagnosis are potentially outdated and there has been no estimation of the [...]
Lumbar spine diagnostic imaging reports may cause patient and clinician concern when clinically unimportant findings are not explicitly described as benign. Our primary aim was to determine the frequency that common, benign findings are reported in lumbar spine plain X-ray, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic [...]
At 38, Carla Loughnane was told she had so few eggs she was near menopause and didn't need birth control. Within six months, she was pregnant. Her twin girls were not yet two years old. This "miracle" baby was a joy, but made her doubt years [...]
Corporations have used feminist language to promote their products for decades. In the 1980s, companies co-opted messaging about female autonomy to encourage women’s consumption of unhealthy commodities, such as tobacco and alcohol. Today, feminist narratives around empowerment and women’s rights are being co-opted to market interventions [...]
Promotion of non-evidence based tests and treatments using empowerment messages risks women being overdiagnosed and overtreated, argue Tessa Copp and colleagues. Commercial organisations have an extraordinary influence on population health through how they engage with and shape social movements to market their products.1 Corporations have historically exploited [...]
Researchers find promotions encouraging women to take charge of their health could lead to overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment. Corporations are co-opting feminist messages around women’s wellbeing to promote useless health tests and treatments, an analysis by Australian researchers has found. Published in the British Medical Journal [...]
The growing number of Direct To Consumer (DTC) tests available for direct purchase online in Australia purport to empower consumers with choice and convenience of access. The categorisation of clinical utility developed in this study shows the majority of currently available products lack clear benefits [...]
To the Editor: Good clinical decisions should weigh benefits against harms. The recent JAMA Insights article on gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) focused on the potential benefits of increased detection and treatment of GDM and subsequent promotion of cardiovascular health.1 Unmentioned were the potential detrimental effects of overdiagnosis [...]
You order a computed tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) for a patient with suspected pulmonary thromboembolism. The radiology report states that no pulmonary thromboembolism is seen but notes an unrelated lung nodule. What should you do with this incidental finding, or “incidentaloma”?
The VALID BP project was initiated to increase the availability of validated blood pressure measuring devices (BPMDs). The goal is to eliminate non validated BPMDs and minimise over- and underdiagnosis of hypertension caused by inaccurate readings. This study was undertaken to assess the potential return [...]