Overdiagnosis

Analysis and Comment (8)

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We need a more rational debate about how and where we spend our finite health budget. Image from shutterstock.com

Explainer: what is health rationing?

By Anthony Scott, University of Melbourne

HEALTH RATIONING – a series which examines Australia’s rising health costs and the tough decisions governments must make to rein them it. Any mention of the “R” word in health care immediately brings…
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Obesity, over-diagnosis, the NDIS, vaccinations and open access for genetic information were just some of the issues covered in 2012. Kylie May; shutterstock.com; Morberg; Pranjal Mahn

2012, the year that was: Health + Medicine

By Fron Jackson-Webb, The Conversation

It promised to be a full year of reforms: pokies legislation, front-of-pack food labels and a dental system that doesn’t cost those in need an arm and a leg. But while we did see cigarette companies forced…
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Even without routine mammographs, women with a family history of the disease should be screened. Zanthia

Is routine breast cancer screening doing more harm than good?

By Robin Bell, Monash University; Bebe Loff, Monash University; Michael Baum, University College London, and Robert Burton, Monash University

Public discussion about the risks of over-diagnosis of breast cancer have left some women wondering whether they should take part in the government’s breast screening program. Let’s take a look at what…
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Over-diagnosis distracts us with conditions and interventions that provide marginal benefit, no benefit, or even net harm. Jonathan Cohen

Ending over-diagnosis: how to help without harming

By Paul Glasziou

OVER-DIAGNOSIS EPIDEMIC – In the final instalment of our series, Paul Glasziou talks about the way forward. Over-diagnosis is a significant problem that’s already common in some areas of medicine, such…
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Not asking critical diagnostic questions is one of the causes ofthe high prevalence rates for ADHD. Jeff Meyer

Moving the diagnostic goalposts: medicalising ADHD

By Rae Thomas

OVER-DIAGNOSIS EPIDEMIC – Today, Rae Thomas looks at the growing prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Does your five-year-old have difficulty sustaining attention? What about organising…
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Of all the teenagers with flu-like symptoms, GPs need to find the one with a lymphoma in his chest. Joey Yee

Over-diagnosis: the view from inside primary care

By Jenny Doust

OVER-DIAGNOSIS EPIDEMIC – We kick off the second week of this series with Jenny Doust looking at some drivers of over-diagnosis in general practice. It’s easy to dismiss general practice as being about…
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Women need to be made aware of over-diagnosis and given enough information to make up their own minds about screening. Johan/Flickr

Over-diagnosis and breast cancer screening: a case study

By Robin Bell, Monash University and Robert Burton, Monash University

OVER-DIAGNOSIS EPIDEMIC – Today Robin Bell and Robert Burton examine breast cancer to evaluate the role of population-wide screening in over-diagnosis. Since the national screening mammography program…

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