Choosing Wisely recommendations in oncology: a scoping review

Choosing Wisely (CW) campaign addresses the global challenge of reducing waste in healthcare by discouraging unnecessary interventions, minimizing harm, and promoting evidence-based care. Barriers like limited awareness among healthcare professionals and the lack of global mapping of recommendations hinder its implementation. We conducted a comprehensive scoping review mapping the literature on CW recommendations in oncology from 2012 to 2024. A total of 220 recommendations were gathered from 19 studies and 20 recognized international websites. These recommendations explored the importance of personalizing screening, staging, and treatment based on individual risk factors, such as life expectancy and biomarker status. The findings suggest a global shift toward patient-centered oncology care, focusing on personalized, evidence-based treatments and minimizing unnecessary interventions. Developing recommendations based on resource-stratified guidelines is vital for improving the adoption of CW, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, as it ensures that recommendations are aligned with local healthcare needs and available resources.