De-implementing low-value care in endocrinology.

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Health Services Research
• Implementation Science

Background:

• Low-value care, defined as ineffective, costly, or potentially harmful treatments, is prevalent in endocrinology.
• Identifying low-value care is insufficient; active de-implementation strategies are crucial for improving patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency.
• Stakeholders often lack familiarity with established frameworks for successful de-implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize prevalent low-value care practices within the field of endocrinology.
• To provide a foundational understanding of de-implementation science principles and methodologies.
• To bridge the gap between identifying low-value care and actively reducing its use in endocrine practice.

Main Methods:

• Literature review to identify common low-value care practices in endocrinology.
• Synthesis of key concepts and frameworks from de-implementation science.
• Development of actionable strategies for de-implementing low-value care.

Main Results:

• A curated list of common low-value care practices in endocrinology was compiled.
• Fundamental principles of de-implementation science, including barrier identification and strategy selection, were outlined.
• A clear pathway for applying de-implementation science to endocrine practice was proposed.

Conclusions:

• Reducing low-value care in endocrinology requires a systematic approach grounded in de-implementation science.
• Increased awareness and education on de-implementation strategies are essential for clinicians and researchers.
• This work provides a roadmap to actively address and reduce low-value care, ultimately benefiting patient health and resource stewardship.