Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26904357›Full record

ArticleJournal of osteoporosis2016

Understanding Referral Patterns for Bone Mineral Density Testing among Family Physicians: A Qualitative Descriptive Study.

Sarah E P Munce, Sonya Allin, Leslie Carlin, Joanna Sale, Gillian Hawker, Sandra Kim, Debra A Butt, Irene Polidoulis, Karen Tu, Susan B Jaglal

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of osteoporosis, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Recommendations on screening for primary prevention of fragility fractures.CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne · 2023
    Guideline
  3. Osteoporosis and post-fracture management in the primary care setting: a systematic review.Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA · 2026
    Review
  4. CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne · 2023
    Article
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Sarah E P MunceDepartment of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 1V7; Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 2A2.
Sonya AllinDepartment of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 1V7; Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 2A2.
Leslie CarlinDepartment of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 1V7.
Joanna SaleMobility Program Clinical Research Unit, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada M5B 1W8; Institute of Health Policy, Management & Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M5T 3M6.
Gillian HawkerInstitute of Health Policy, Management & Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M5T 3M6; Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 1A8; Institute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada M4N 3M5.
Sandra KimWomen's College Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 1B2.
Debra A ButtThe Scarborough Hospital, Scarborough, ON, Canada M1P 2V5; Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 1V7.
Irene PolidoulisThe Scarborough Hospital, Scarborough, ON, Canada M1P 2V5; Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 1V7.
Karen TuInstitute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada M4N 3M5; Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 1V7.
Susan B JaglalDepartment of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 1V7; Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 2A2; Institute of Health Policy, Management & Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M5T 3M6; Institute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada M4N 3M5; Women's College Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 1B2.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction. Evidence of inappropriate bone mineral density (BMD) testing has been identified in terms of overtesting in low risk women and undertesting among patients at high risk. In light of these phenomena, the objective of this study was to understand the referral patterns for BMD testing among Ontario's family physicians (FPs). Methods. A qualitative descriptive approach was adopted. Twenty-two FPs took part in a semi-structured interview lasting approximately 30 minutes. An inductive thematic analysis was performed on the transcribed data in order to understand the referral patterns for BMD testing. Results. We identified a lack of clarity about screening for osteoporosis with a tendency for baseline BMD testing in healthy, postmenopausal women and a lack of clarity on the appropriate age for screening for men in particular. A lack of clarity on appropriate intervals for follow-up testing was also described. Conclusions. These findings lend support to what has been documented at the population level suggesting a tendency among FPs to refer menopausal women (at low risk). Emphasis on referral of high-risk groups as well as men and further clarification and education on the appropriate intervals for follow-up testing is warranted.

Identifiers

PMID26904357
PMCPMC4745655

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.