The "Choosing Wisely campaign" is a new initiative aimed at reducing the unnecessary utilisation of health care services in Australia and other countries.  An example is the overuse of imaging such as MRI, CT scans and x-ray for investigating back and neck pain.  Research has shown that in absence of serious pathology (such as fracture) imaging is unlikely to improve your treatment outcome. When you visit a health care provider, "Choosing Wisely" recommends that patients discuss the following questions with their practitioner prior to having further tests:

Do I really need this test, treatment or procedure?

Tests may help you and your doctor or other health care provider determine the problem. Treatments, such as medicines, and procedures may help to treat it.

What are the risks?

Will there be side effects to the test or treatment? What are the chances of getting results that aren’t accurate? Could that lead to more testing, additional treatments or another procedure?

Are there simpler, safer options?

Are there alternative options to treatment that could work. Lifestyle changes, such as eating healthier foods or exercising more, can be safe and effective options.

What happens if I don't do anything?

Ask if your condition might get worse — or better — if you don’t have the test, treatment or procedure right away.

What are the costs?

Costs can be financial, emotional or a cost of your time. Where there is a cost to the community, is the cost reasonable or is there a cheaper alternative?

As evidence based practice, Warragul Chiropractic fully endorses the Choosing Wisely recommendations and we encourage all of our clients to discuss any of the above questions with either ourselves or other members of their health care team as appropriate.

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