Is it known why doctors do not comply with the recommendations?

As the survey of the Policlinique Lausanne shows, the patients' wishes and the assumption that other doctors would prescribe the therapy they wanted anyway are the decisive factors. In the USA, the fear of being sued for malpractice is listed as an additional reason.

These findings show the importance of patient awareness and the problem of misuse and overuse in the implementation of the smarter medicine campaign. In addition, it seems indispensable that GPs with their experience background are also involved from the beginning in the development of further recommendations. There is a need for further public discourse on the value of medical interventions so that the recommendations are better implemented.

 

See also the article by Stefan Neuner-Jehle in the special issue 'Primary and Hospital Care'.