Patterns of Imaging Requests By General Practitioners for People With Musculoskeletal Complaints: An Analysis From a Primary Care Database.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The aim of this study was to examine imaging requested by general practitioners (GPs) for patients with low back, neck, shoulder, and knee complaints over 5 years (2014-2018).

Methods

This analysis from the Australian Population Level Analysis and Reporting database included patients presenting with a diagnosis of low back, neck, shoulder, and/or knee complaints. Eligible imaging requests included low back and neck x-ray, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); knee x-ray, CT, MRI, and ultrasound; and shoulder x-ray, MRI, and ultrasound. We determined number of imaging requests and examined their timing, associated factors, and trends over time. Primary analysis included imaging requests from 2 weeks before diagnosis to 1 year after diagnosi

SUBMITTER: Haas R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11848978 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature