Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29100783›Full record

SynthesisThe American journal of emergency medicine2018

Factors associated with imaging overuse in the emergency department: A systematic review.

Monica Tung, Ritu Sharma, Jeremiah S Hinson, Stephanie Nothelle, Jean Pannikottu, Jodi B Segal

Open access · greenAbstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in The American journal of emergency medicine, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 38 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
38citing papers in PubMed
8.4field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
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

38 citing papers in PubMed, 79 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Observational
  13. Exploring diagnostic stewardship in the emergency department evaluation of pediatric abdominal pain in a statewide quality collaborative.Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine · 2025
    Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Review
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Article
  20. 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

6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Monica TungJohns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, United States.
Ritu SharmaJohns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States.
Jeremiah S HinsonJohns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, United States.
Stephanie NothelleJohns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, United States.
Jean PannikottuJohns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, United States; Northeastern Ohio Medical University, United States(1).
Jodi B SegalJohns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, United States; Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States; Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research, United States. Electronic address: jsegal@jhmi.edu.
Johns Hopkins University · USJohns Hopkins Medicine · US

Funding

Towards Understanding the Patient Experience of Overuse of Medical ResourcesK24AG049036 · NIA · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI SEGAL, JODI B. · 2015 to 2024
$1.6M
NIA NIH HHS K24 AG049036
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEmergency departments (ED) are sites of prevalent imaging overuse; however, determinants that drive imaging in this setting are not well-characterized. We systematically reviewed the literature to summarize the determinants of imaging overuse in the ED.

methodsWe searched MEDLINE® and Embase® from January 1998 to March 2017. Studies were included if they were written in English, contained original data, pertained to a U.S. population, and identified a determinant associated with overuse of imaging in the ED.

resultsTwenty relevant studies were included. Fourteen evaluated computerized tomography (CT) scanning in patents presenting to a regional ED who were then transferred to a level 1 trauma center; incomplete transfer of data and poor image quality were the most frequently described reasons for repeat scanning. Unnecessary pre-transfer scanning or repeated scanning after transfer, in multiple studies, was highest among older patients, those with higher Injury Severity Scores (ISS) and those being transferred further. Six studies explored determinants of overused imaging in the ED in varied conditions, with overuse greater in older patients and those having more comorbid diseases. Defensive imaging reportedly influenced physician behavior. Less integration of services across the health system also predisposed to overuse of imaging.

conclusionsThe literature is heterogeneous with surprisingly few studies of determinants of imaging in minor head injury or of spine imaging. Older patient age and higher ISS were the most consistently associated with ED imaging overuse. This review highlights the need for precise definitions of overuse of imaging in the ED.

Indexed as

EmergenciesDiagnostic ImagingEmergency Service, HospitalHealth Care CostsHumansEmergency departmentHealth care costsImagingOveruseQuality measurement

Identifiers

PMID29100783
PMCPMC5815889
OpenAlexW2765738479

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

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.