VARIABILITY IN THE NUMBER OF TESTS USED IN CHILDREN WITH ACUTE GASTROENTERITIS IN 2 HOSPITALS

The objective of the study was to determine whether rates of diagnosti c test use varied between one US and one Spanish hospital. Retrospecti ve chart review in the hospital's emergency departments, recording pat ient and illness characteristics and laboratory tests were performed. Adjustment was performed by multivariate logistic regression analysis. After controlling for patient and severity of illness, US children re mained more likely to undergo more than one laboratory test [OR=4.8 (3 .5-6.6)] than Spanish children. It was concluded that physicians at th e US hospital ordered more tests than providers at the Spanish hospita l when treating patients with comparable level of illness. Cross-natio nal comparisons may be useful in efforts to identify appropriate cost- effective care.