Have your say about your health care

Has a doctor ever recommended a medical test or treatment you didn’t feel was necessary?

That is one of the questions the Health Quality Council (HQC) hopes you will take a few minutes to answer in the Choosing Wisely Saskatchewan patient and public questionnaire.

Choosing Wisely Saskatchewan launched earlier this year and is part of a larger national campaign, Choosing Wisely Canada (CWC), which aims to help clinicians and patients talk about unnecessary tests and treatments, and make smart and effective choices to ensure high-quality care.

The Health Quality Council coordinates the Choosing Wisely campaign in the province.

“We can’t do this work without our patients and families, so we’re conducting a survey to see if there is an awareness of the campaign right now,” said Jennifer Wright, Choosing Wisely Saskatchewan co-ordinator. In the national Choosing Wisely survey, 24 per cent of patients said a doctor had recommended a test or treatment that they felt wasn’t necessary, and 94 per cent felt they needed more information to make good decisions about their care.

The Saskatchewan survey asks participants to agree or disagree with statements such as:

Patient demands are responsible for more unnecessary use of health-care services than are decisions by doctors;

The primary responsibility for decreasing inappropriate use of services rests with doctors;

When I hear about eliminating “unnecessary” tests and treatments, I think it really means limiting health-care options just to save money.

More does not always mean better when it comes to health care. Unnecessary tests and treatments are unhelpful and can actually expose patients to harm, said Shannon Boklaschuk, communications consultant with the HQC.

Cindy Dumba of Regina agrees. She was one of the patient and family advisers in the group that formulated the national Choosing Wisely patient survey.

“Most patients see our doctors in a power position, and we need to feel comfortable asking questions and making decisions collaboratively,” Dumba said.

She believes a culture change is needed so patients don’t feel it’s a waste of time if they go to a doctor and don’t leave with a prescription or a requisition for a test.

“What we’re trying to focus on is coming away with a plan, when we can,” Dumba said. “There are times when treatments and tests are necessary, but not always.”

Other questions in the survey focus on the Choosing Wisely Canada campaign. Respondents are asked if they’ve heard, seen or read about the initiative or seen any of the campaign materials.

One poster suggests four questions patients should ask their health-care provider:

Do I really need this test, treatment or procedure?

What are the downsides?

Are there simpler, safer options? What happens if I do nothing? The HQC is collaborating with the Saskatchewan Medical Association, the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Medicine, patient and family advisers and other health system partners to raise the profile of the CWC.

“I’m really excited about where this goes next because the campaign has stressed that we can’t do this work without both the clinicians and our patients and families to reduce unnecessary testing — it’s really about a partnership,” Wright said.

Saskatchewan can fill out the survey at www.surveymonkey. com/r/VBMQVJ7 until Sept. 30.