Finances are a major motivating factor in patient avoidance of diagnostic testing

The lead author of the study is Jonathan D. Porath, University of Michigan Medical School. The emergency department-based study, by Porath, et al, utilized a copay to "penalize" for the test. The results suggest that a credit for foregoing the test (similar to a safe driver discount) might be an interesting direction for future research.

With patients having a growing personal contribution to health care, the findings support the need for further study to determine how best to implement financial considerations to alter testing behavior.

Erik P. Hess MD MSc, professor and vice chair for research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Emergency Medicine, commented:

"This study highlights the importance patients may place on the cost of low-value diagnostic testing. Implementing these findings requires careful consideration, as discussing cost in this context may have unintended effects on physician trust and runs the risk of disproportionately influencing decision-making in uninsured patients. Nonetheless, it is important for physicians to recognize the importance of cost as a driver of patient decision-making in low-value diagnostic testing."