Unwarranted clinical practice variation and resource overutilization in medical care: the example of transfusion practices in elderly hospital patients

Abstract

Clinical practice variation refers to the differences in healthcare practices and treatment decisions among healthcare providers, for patients with similar clinical conditions. These variations can occur within and across regions, healthcare systems, and individual practitioners, as well as different contexts of care.

Variation can be classified in warranted or unwarranted. Unwarranted variation is defined as a variation in clinical practice or outcomes which cannot be accounted for by patient baseline risk, preferences, economic constraints or access to technology.

The presence of unwarranted clinical practice variation (UCPV) poses challenges in achieving consistent, high-quality care and can lead to disparities in patient outcomes. UCVP encompasses deviations from established clinical guidelines or evidence-based practices, and these variations can manifest in numerous ways, such as differences in diagnostic approaches, treatment modalities, medication choices, surgical procedures, and care pathways.