ArticleEmergency medicine Australasia : EMA2025
Could Low-Value Diagnostic Tests be Compounding Access Block? A Single-Site, Cross-Sectional Study.
Article in Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
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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.
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.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Co-Design of a Theory-Informed, Multicomponent, Intervention for Diagnostic Stewardship in a Major-Referral Emergency Department: A Qualitative Descriptive Study.Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA · 2026Article
- 'Communication Is Crucial': A Qualitative Study of Patient Expectations of Diagnostic Tests in Emergency Medicine Practice.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2026Article
- Could Low-Value Diagnostic Tests be Compounding Access Block? A Single-Site, Cross-Sectional Study.Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveThe study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and impact of low-value diagnostic tests at a regional, major-referral, mixed Emergency Department (ED).
methodsA single-site, cross-sectional study was conducted at Townsville University Hospital in April 2022. Adult patients (aged 18 years and above) who underwent one of 10 specified diagnostic tests were included. The tests encompassed coagulation studies, urine cultures, blood cultures, cranial computed tomography (CT) in syncope, cranial CT in minor head injury, cervical spine CT in neck trauma, ankle X-ray in acute ankle trauma, duplex lower extremity ultrasound in suspected deep vein thrombosis, CT pulmonary angiography in suspected pulmonary embolism, and CT kidney ureter bladder in renal colic. Tests were classified as low-value based on Choosing Wisely recommendations, with their value determined by a research assistant using clinical documentation, prior to the availability of test results. Emergency clinicians were blinded to the study conduct.
resultsOf all diagnostic tests performed, 48.2% (276/572) were deemed low-value, including 50.6% of laboratory tests (246/486) and 24.4% of imaging tests (21/86). The median ED length of stay was 6.1 h (IQR 3.9-8.5). Low-value imaging tests contributed to 152 lost bed-hours per 100 tests.
conclusionA substantial proportion of diagnostic tests were low-value, exacerbating access block and reducing the availability of ED beds, thereby delaying timely emergency care. The implementation of evidence-based, effective strategies is imperative to mitigate patient harm associated with low-value diagnostic tests.
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