Exploring patients' perceptions of low-value care: An interview study

Clinicians consider patients' expectations and demands as a major driver of low-value care. However, little is known about the patients' perspective. We aimed to explore patients' perceptions of low-value care.

We performed semi-structured interviews with 24 patients from the Netherlands and explored their ideas of and experiences with low-value care, and their perception of its consequences and solutions. The interviews were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.

Patients considered several types of care to be of low value, such as duplicate care, care that does not fit their preferences, inefficient care, and care that could have been prevented. The main causes of low-value care according to patients are poor clinician-patient communication and adhering to protocols instead of tailoring care to the individual patient. Consequences of low-value care were a burden for the patient, higher healthcare costs, and less room for high-value care.

Patients' view of low-value care extends beyond care that is medically ineffective. Their experiences could help to identify opportunities to reduce the (perceived) use of low-value care.

Future de-implementation studies could benefit from engaging patients. Dutch patients understand the importance of reducing low-value care and could be strong advocates for de-implementation programs.