Interventions to improve appropriateness of laboratory testing in the intensive care unit: a narrative review

Annals of Intensive Care

Table 3 Factors of heterogeneity in interventions to improve laboratory testing in the intensive care unit

Methodological
Tests selected for the study Type of intervention conducted Single strategy vs. multifaceted intervention Duration of intervention protocol Outcome(s) measured Rate of outcome(s) assessment Last measurement carried out over time
Organizational
Hospital size Hospital internal organization Local testing protocols or guidance Local availability of tests Local knowledge and culture of appropriateness of laboratory testing Teaching vs. non-teaching status
Systemic
Currency differences between countries National organization of healthcare system Public–private balance Organization of insurance and reimbursement systems

Three main categories regroup the factors that explain the heterogeneity of methods and the difficulty of generalizing data in interventions aimed at improving laboratory testing