Choosing Wisely-Barriers and Solutions to Implementation in Low and Middle-Income Countries

Curr Oncol. 2022 Jul 19;29(7):5091-5096. doi: 10.3390/curroncol29070403.

Abstract

Globally, there is increasing emphasis on value-based cancer care. Rising healthcare costs and reduced health care spending and budgets, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), call for patients, providers, and healthcare systems to apply the Choose Wisely (CW) approach. This approach seeks to advance a dialogue on avoiding unnecessary medical tests, treatments, and procedures. Several factors have been described as barriers and facilitators to the implementation of the Choosing Wisely recommendations in high-income countries but none for LMICs. In this review, we attempt to classify potential barriers to the Choose Wisely implementation relative to the sources of behavior and potential intervention functions that can be implemented in order to reduce these barriers.

Keywords: Africa; Choosing Wisely; low and middle-income countries; value-based cancer care.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Delivery of Health Care*
  • Developing Countries*
  • Health Care Costs
  • Humans
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding. The APC was funded by Queens University.