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Educating Junior Doctors to Reduce Requests for Laboratory Investigations: Opportunities and Challenges

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Abstract

We assessed the impact of educational strategies to reduce requests by junior medical officers for pathology laboratory investigations. We demonstrated a noticeable reduction in test requests following a campaign to encourage the use of a case-based online simulation tool. However, achieving an adequate participation rate and sustaining change were significant challenges.

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Acknowledgments

Development of the iNvestigate website was funded by the Australian Government under the Quality Use of Pathology Program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nephrology, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, Australia

    Angus Ritchie

  2. Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia

    Elsa Jureidini

  3. Department of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2052, Australia

    Rakesh K. Kumar

Authors
  1. Angus Ritchie
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  2. Elsa Jureidini
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  3. Rakesh K. Kumar
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rakesh K. Kumar.

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Ritchie, A., Jureidini, E. & Kumar, R.K. Educating Junior Doctors to Reduce Requests for Laboratory Investigations: Opportunities and Challenges. Med.Sci.Educ. 24, 161–163 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-014-0041-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-014-0041-2

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