Six most common inappropriate tests ordered by residents for each sample patient
| TESTS | PROPORTION OF RESIDENTS ORDERING TEST | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38-YEAR-OLD WOMAN | 38-YEAR-OLD MAN | 55-YEAR-OLD WOMAN | 55-YEAR-OLD MAN | |
| CBC with or without WBC differential | 52 | 47 | 77 | 74 |
| Electrolytes | 27 | 26 | 46 | 45 |
| Creatinine | 33 | 33 | 66 | 65 |
| TSH | 32 | 22 | 48 | 37 |
| Fasting glucose | 32 | 32 | NA | NA |
| ALT | NA | NA | 35 | 34 |
| Miscellaneous | ||||
| • Chlamydia and gonorrhea | 33* | NA | NA | NA |
| • Cholesterol | NA | 23 | NA | NA |
| • BMD | NA | NA | 32 | NA |
| • PSA | NA | NA | NA | 38 |
ALT—alanine aminotransferase, BMD—bone mineral density, CBC—complete blood count, NA—not applicable, PSA—prostate-specific antigen, TSH—thyroid-stimulating hormone, WBC—white blood cell.
↵* At McMaster, chlamydia and gonorrhea testing is promoted as part of screening for this type of patient. Chlamydia and gonorrhea testing was ordered by 25% of University of Alberta and 24% of University of Calgary residents compared with 49% of McMaster residents (post hoc comparison, University of Alberta and University of Calgary pooled vs McMaster, P = .003).