TY - JOUR
T1 - Tumour markers requesting pattern with regards to different organizational settings in Italy
T2 - A survey of hospital laboratories
AU - Franceschini, Roberta
AU - Trevisiol, Chiara
AU - Dittadi, Ruggero
AU - Gion, Massimo
PY - 2009/7
Y1 - 2009/7
N2 - Background: Tumour markers are frequently used in clinical practice and the reason for ordering varies considerably and often seems to be inappropriate. We carried out a survey of Italian laboratories on their current pattern of use. Methods: Forty-four laboratories located in health-care institutions with inpatient beds were surveyed about the organizational, clinical and methodological aspects of tumour markers ordering. Results: Thirty-one laboratories (70%) filled in and returned the questionnaire. Overall, 977,786 tumour marker tests were scrutinized. The pattern of tumour marker use did not seem to be influenced by the institutional setting, by availability of oncology facilities or by adoption of clinical guidelines. In addition, the information flow from clinicians to the laboratory and vice versa was poor and informal. Conclusions: Monitoring tumour marker pattern use can provide valuable information for health-care decision makers, highlighting potential inadequacies in laboratory services but also identifying problems in other areas of health-care delivery that could benefit from educational programmes.
AB - Background: Tumour markers are frequently used in clinical practice and the reason for ordering varies considerably and often seems to be inappropriate. We carried out a survey of Italian laboratories on their current pattern of use. Methods: Forty-four laboratories located in health-care institutions with inpatient beds were surveyed about the organizational, clinical and methodological aspects of tumour markers ordering. Results: Thirty-one laboratories (70%) filled in and returned the questionnaire. Overall, 977,786 tumour marker tests were scrutinized. The pattern of tumour marker use did not seem to be influenced by the institutional setting, by availability of oncology facilities or by adoption of clinical guidelines. In addition, the information flow from clinicians to the laboratory and vice versa was poor and informal. Conclusions: Monitoring tumour marker pattern use can provide valuable information for health-care decision makers, highlighting potential inadequacies in laboratory services but also identifying problems in other areas of health-care delivery that could benefit from educational programmes.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=67650806480&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=67650806480&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1258/acb.2009.008240
DO - 10.1258/acb.2009.008240
M3 - Article
C2 - 19487409
AN - SCOPUS:67650806480
VL - 46
SP - 316
EP - 321
JO - Annals of Clinical Biochemistry
JF - Annals of Clinical Biochemistry
SN - 0004-5632
IS - 4
ER -