Description and intended use of tools to support delayed prescribing of musculoskeletal imaging
| Overdiagnosis Leaflet | Dialogue Sheet | Wait-and-see Note | |
| Why: rationale | Goal | Goal | Goal |
| Promote watchful waiting for people with low back pain. | Promote watchful waiting for people with musculoskeletal pain (including low back pain). | Promote watchful waiting for people with musculoskeletal pain (including low back pain). | |
| Raise awareness of non-essential or ‘low-value’ lumbar imaging tests. | Support doctor–patient communication and joint decision-making. | Support doctor–patient communication and joint decision-making. | |
| Provide actions for patients to take to address their pain, as alternatives to imaging. | |||
| What: materials and content | 6-panel A4 folded leaflet | 1-page A5 sheet | 2-sided A6 note |
| Designed by advertising company and researchers. | Designed by the Department of Health and researchers. | Designed by the Department of Health and researchers. | |
| Key messages | Key messages | Key message | |
| Unnecessary lumbar scans can cause harm. | In your case I think imaging is unnecessary. | The referral is a backup; only to be used under specific circumstances (tailored to the patient). | |
| There are alternatives to imaging. | I recommend we delay decision to have a scan. | ||
| Speak to your doctor. | There are other actions you can take to address your pain. | ||
| Behavioural prompts | Behavioural prompts | Behavioural prompts | |
| Framing of harms from overdiagnosis. | Present no imaging as the default. | Present no imaging as the default. | |
| Appeal to authority (quote from orthopaedic surgeon) | Co-signature (patient and doctor) commitment to delay. | Co-signature (patient and doctor) commitment to delay. | |
| Tailoring: to the individual | None. | Space to describe symptoms, things to look out for, name and date, customisable reasons to delay, and recommended actions to manage pain and assist recovery. | Review date and things to look out for. |