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Choosing Wisely

The Choosing Wisely campaign began in 2012 as an initiative of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). Following this beginning, similar initiatives developed in Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and now Australia. Choosing Wisely Australia is led by Australia's medical colleges and societies and facilitated by NPS MedicineWise.

The goal of Choosing Wisely Australia is to start conversations between consumers and clinicians about unnecessary tests, treatments and procedures, enhancing the quality of care and, where appropriate, reducing unnecessary care. For more information, see Choosing Wisely.

Australia's peak colleges, societies and associations have developed lists of recommendations of the tests, treatments, and procedures that healthcare providers and consumers should question. Each recommendation is based on the best available evidence. See CICM’s recommendations . 

Importantly, all recommendations are not prescriptive but are intended as a guide to start a conversation about what is appropriate and necessary.

As each situation is unique, healthcare providers and consumers should use the recommendations to collaboratively formulate their own appropriate healthcare plan together.

Resources
New patient guide to taking opioids for non-cancer pain in hospital

Every day in Australia, 3 people die, and 150 people are hospitalised because of harm from pharmaceutical opioids. Opioids can be an effective component of the management of acute and cancer-related pain. However, recent evidence shows that for most patients with chronic non-cancer pain, opioids do not provide clinically important improvement in pain or function compared with a placebo.

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Tailoring the use of opioids on discharge from hospital

Presentation to 2019 Choosing Wisely Australia National Meeting (30 May): "Tailoring the use of opioids on discharge from hospital" - Adj A/Prof Matthew Anstey, Intensive Care Specialist and Co-Director of ICU Research at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth and Former Chair Choosing Wisely Australia Advisory Group.

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