[Laboratory input. General practitioners positive about reflective testing].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the opinion of general practitioners on reflective testing, i.e. the practice of additional tests being performed and comments added to the results by laboratory staff when appropriate.

DESIGN

Descriptive.

METHOD

In the eastern South Limburg region 155 general practitioners received a list of 10 fictitious patient cases, each involving the possible addition of a specific test. The general practitioners could choose what they preferred the laboratory to do: add tests, phone the general practitioner, add a written comment or do nothing. In addition the general practitioners were asked to judge the effect of additional tests and comments on patient management with respect to diagnosis, treatment and referral, using 200 laboratory reports from their own patients.

RESULTS

The response to the fictitious cases was 45%. Most general practitioners favoured the laboratory taking the initiative by adding on tests and commenting on the results in the given clinical scenarios. 78% of the questionnaires accompanying the lab reports were returned by 87% of the general practitioners. In nearly all cases (99%) the service was marked as useful. In more than half of the cases (53%) reflective testing affected the measures taken by the general practitioners.

CONCLUSION

Reflective testing was in general welcomed by the general practitioners. In the majority of cases this led to an improvement in the diagnosis or adjustment of treatment.