Rheumatologists and the Requesting of Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA) Tests in Patients With Rheumatologic Complaints

Requesting Behaviour of Rheumatologists Regarding Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA) in Patients With Rheumatologic Complaints

The aim of this study is to assess the effect of a simple intervention (a combination of education and feedback) on Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) testing.

This aim was chosen because of the known overuse of many laboratory tests, of which ANA testing is one. As overuse of ANA tests can have negative consequences (both for patients and society), the investigators designed an intervention to see how this would influence Antinuclear Antibody testing by rheumatologists.

Inclusion Criteria rheumatologists:

• rheumatologists who are consulting patients at the rheumatology outpatient clinic of a participating centre

Exclusion Criteria rheumatologists:

• rheumatologists not working the full study period (pre- and post-intervention) at a participating centre
• rheumatologists not giving their consent to participate

Inclusion Criteria patients - all patients with an ANA test requested by an included rheumatologist during the study period

Exclusion Criteria patients

- patients with an ANA test requested during a clinical admission