RESEARCH OF URGENT BIOCHEMISTRY TEST ORDERING HABIT

Abstract

Aims: This study aims to reveal the inappropriate use of biochemical laboratory testing at Trakya University Hospital Biochemistry Laboratory, increase the awareness of the physicians and prevent time loss.

Methods: This study was descriptive, retrospective and carried out by scanning data resources. Two 48-hour intervals were chosen to evaluate the test ordering habits of the physicians working at Trakya University Hospital. Between the dates of 3rd - 5th of November 2017, Trakya University Hospital Biochemistry Laboratory was working fully functionally. However, between the dates of 10th - 12th of November 2017, the automation system of the hospital was scheduled to be shutdown due to a technical error. All the physicians working at Trakya University Hospital were informed about the technical error of the automation system and were told that they would need to order only stat tests by using old-fashioned test request forms. The data of ordered tests in these two-time intervals were analyzed and compared by using frequencies and percentages as descriptive statistics.

Results: The mean number of tests per patient was 23 between 3rd - 5th of November 2017 and 15.5 between 10th - 12th of November 2017. The number of patients who had at least one test order decreased only 13.1% between 10th - 12th of November 2017. The total number of departments who made at least one test order increased by one between 10th - 12th of November 2017.

Conclusion: This study indicates that physicians should be more careful while ordering tests which are necessary. Therefore, there is a need for better communication between the laboratory staff and physicians that also plays a significant role in providing better health care for the patients.

Keywords

• Biochemistry,laboratories,emergencies

Kaynakça

1. 1. Tiersten D. The “stat” problem. Clin Lab Med 1983;3(3):499-507.
2. 2. Volmar KE, Wilkinson DS, Wagar EA et al. Utilization of stat test priority in the clinical laboratory. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2013;137(2):220-7.
3. 3. Cathcart P, Emancipator K. Preventing overuse of stat testing. Lab Med 1997;28(3):165-6.
4. 4. Hilborne L, Lee H, Cathcart P. STAT testing? A guideline for meeting clinician turnaround time requirements. Practice parameter. Am J Clin Pathol 1996;105(6):671-5.
5. 5. Sucov A, Bazarian JJ, deLahunta et al. Test ordering guidelines can alter ordering patterns in an academic emergency department. J Emerg Med 1999;17(3):391-7.
6. 6. Australasian College for Emergency Medicine, The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia. Guideline on pathology testing in the emergency medicine. 2012. Available from URL: https://www.rcpa.edu.au/getattachment/8424e33b-8688-4c7d-b5ab-fbc4c38bccb9/ Pathology-Testing-in-the-Emergency-Department (11.09.2018).
7. 7. Yılmaz FM, Kahveci R, Aksoy A et al. Impact of laboratory test use strategies in a Turkish hospital. PLoS ONE 2016;11(4):e0153693.