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Patient risk Certain examinations are often superfluous
Facts against the "disinformation"
Some screening tests, such as ovarian or prostate cancer, often have no advantage for patients: statistics show the death rate remains the same. X-rays are sometimes even dangerous and ultrasound findings can lead to unnecessary surgery. Millions of medical examinations in this country are useless and sometimes harmful to health. Experts and health insurances now want to inform patients better, according to a message from the news agency dpa. Facts should help against the "disinformation".
Many investigations are nonsensical. (Image: Robert Kneschke / fotolia) X-rays often hurt more
Actually, it is known to medical professionals that the common disease of back pain is not always the cross itself fault. Nevertheless, many doctors first have their patients X-rayed, because after all, no bone damage as a possible cause should go undetected. However, as with many other examinations, the risk is usually greater than the benefit. Back pain patients with and without X-ray examination were compared in a relevant investigation. It was found that of those with x-rays after nine months still 65 percent had a persistent pain. Of those without such admission, it was 57 percent. Every year around 2,000 cancers - based on all areas of the body - can be traced back to X-rays and computed tomography. Shown is X-ray according to the dpa report in pain after accidents or injuries.
Health information on the Internet
Since Tuesday, so-called AOK "fact boxes" are now online. This is just one example where you can get easy-to-read, up-to-date information about diagnoses and therapies on the Internet. The Bertelsmann Foundation and the Harding Center, part of the Max Planck Society, which also developed the AOK boxes, also provide similar information. Actually, there is not a total lack of health information on the net, so what should such offers? The Chairman of the Drug Commission of the German medical profession, Wolf-Dieter Ludwig considers independent evidence of benefits and possible damages for absolutely necessary - and so far rather rare sowed. He speaks of a prevailing "monopoly of disinformation". Manufacturers of pharmaceuticals and medical devices have many different ways of persuading patients to use their products.
Screening examinations do not reduce death rate
The agency report mentions the example of ultrasound for the early detection of ovarian cancer. In one study, women with and without such early detection were offered as so-called individual health services (IGeL). The result: out of every 1,000 women affected, three each died. Another example is the prostate early detection by PSA test and palpation. Doctors advise prostate patients poorly, has been recently criticized. In addition, according to the Harding Center, the result is also devastating in this area - death rates are the same in the early and early detection group. However, the graph shows that out of 1,000 men with early detection of 160 after tissue sampling, the test result was a false alarm. 20 out of 1,000 are mistakenly treated, for example by surgery or radiotherapy.
Medical terms are taboo
Offers such as the "fact boxes" promise a combination of current scientific expertise on a subject and concise, clear presentation. Taboo are medical terms that confuse the layman more than enlighten. The mold was developed in the US, as the director of the Harding Center, Gerd Gigerenzer, explained. To the patients, however, the fact boxes were not there yet. "They are fiercely fought by a number of interest groups and have therefore not yet been used." In Germany, the situation is better: the costs for the most important preventive examinations, for example, are taken over by the health insurances. But more and more patients are paying for additional treatments, which were often recommended by the doctor. (Ad)
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