Routine use of chest x-ray for low-risk patients undergoing a periodic health examination: a retrospective cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Many evidence-based recommendations advocate against the use of routine chest x-rays for asymptomatic, low-risk outpatients; however, it is unclear how regularly chest x-rays are ordered in primary care. Our study aims to describe the frequency of, and variation in, routine chest x-ray use in low-risk outpatients among primary care physicians.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, Ontario residents aged 18 years and older with a periodic health examination (PHE) between Apr. 1, 2010, and Mar. 31, 2015, were identified via administrative claims data. Patients with a recent history (last 3 years) of any of the following were excluded: cardiac or pulmonary disease, high-risk comorbidity (e.g., diabetes), consultations/visits or procedures involving cardiac or p

SUBMITTER: Bouck Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6182124 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul-Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature