| How physicians use laboratory tests. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 628059 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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The aim of our study was to measure the ways in which a physician perceives and reacts to a laboratory result. After reviewing a series of brief clinical problems, physicians were asked to indicate the change in test results that would alter the diagnosis or treatment. Although there were wide differences in attitudes, the pattern of responses from 125 internists offered estimates of what is a clinically important change. In selected clinical settings, the change in successive measurements chosen with the greatest frequency as indicators of a clinically important change in level were glucose, 35 mg/dl; BUN, 6 mg/dl; serum sodium, 4 to 6 mEq/liter; serum potassium, 4 to 6 mEq/liter; uric acid, 8 mg/dl; creatinine, 0.4 mg/dl; serum calcium, 4 to 5 mg/dl; triglycerides, 20 mg/dl; hemoglobin, 1 g/dl; and serum osmolality, 11 mOsm/kg. The responses were compared with estimates of laboratory precision drawn from a national quality control program. The quality of laboratory testing was rated as satisfactory for clinical use in four of five clinical settings. The study points out the need to correlate the activities in the clinical laboratory with the application of test results in the care of patients. |
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Authors:
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L P Skendzel |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association Volume: 239 ISSN: 0098-7484 ISO Abbreviation: JAMA Publication Date: 1978 Mar |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 1978-04-26 Completed Date: 1978-04-26 Revised Date: 2006-11-07 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 7501160 Medline TA: JAMA Country: UNITED STATES |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 1077-80 Citation Subset: AIM; IM |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Attitude of Health Personnel* Diagnosis Disease Humans Laboratories / standards* Laboratory Techniques and Procedures* / standards Physicians* Quality Control Therapeutics United States |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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