Walking the tightrope: Communicating overdiagnosis in modern healthcare

Kirsten J. McCaffery; Jesse Jansen; Laura D. Scherer; Hazel Thornton; Jolyn Hersch; Stacy M. Carter; Alexandra Barratt; Stacey Sheridan; Ray Moynihan; Jo Waller; John Brodersen; Kristen Pickles; Adrian Edwards

doi:10.1136/bmj.i348

Walking the tightrope: Communicating overdiagnosis in modern healthcare

Kirsten J. McCaffery^*, Jesse Jansen, Laura D. Scherer, Hazel Thornton, Jolyn Hersch, Stacy M. Carter, Alexandra Barratt, Stacey Sheridan, Ray Moynihan, Jo Waller, John Brodersen, Kristen Pickles, Adrian Edwards

^*Corresponding author for this work

Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

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Abstract

Communication that empowers the public, patients, clinicians, and policy makers to think differently about overdiagnosis will help support a more sustainable healthcare future for all, argue Kirsten McCaffery and colleagues

Overdiagnosis and overtreatment have serious implications for individuals, healthcare systems, and society,1 2 and effective strategies are urgently needed to help the public, clinicians, and policy makers address this problem. Communication about overdiagnosis has been highlighted as essential for moving forward but presents several challenges, such as the potential to confuse the public, undermine trust, and adversely affect people who already have a diagnosis. Various communication based strategies offer real promise; we describe what is known and what we need to know to communicate effectively and safely about overdiagnosis and overtreatment.

Original language	English
Article number	i348
Journal	British Medical Journal
Volume	352
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i348
Publication status	Published - 5 Feb 2016

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Walking the tightrope: communicating overdiagnosis in modern healthcareAccepted author manuscript, 325 KBLicence: CC BY-NC

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AU - Carter, Stacy M.

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AB - Communication that empowers the public, patients, clinicians, and policy makers to think differently about overdiagnosis will help support a more sustainable healthcare future for all, argue Kirsten McCaffery and colleaguesOverdiagnosis and overtreatment have serious implications for individuals, healthcare systems, and society,1 2 and effective strategies are urgently needed to help the public, clinicians, and policy makers address this problem. Communication about overdiagnosis has been highlighted as essential for moving forward but presents several challenges, such as the potential to confuse the public, undermine trust, and adversely affect people who already have a diagnosis. Various communication based strategies offer real promise; we describe what is known and what we need to know to communicate effectively and safely about overdiagnosis and overtreatment.

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Walking the tightrope: Communicating overdiagnosis in modern healthcare

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