{
  "abstract": "Background Over the past three decades, protagonists in the preventing overdiagnosis debate have made substantial efforts to inform the public about the risk of overdiagnosis. They encouraged citizens to make informed screening decisions, empowering them to take control of their health. However, because people still live in a society where the dominant medical discourse encourages screening, this means that people have to question their doctors’ authority . It places the burden of responsibility to avoid overdiagnosis entirely on citizens’ shoulders. Not only is this an unrealistic expectation, but it also risks creating an unequal power dynamic between citizens and the health professionals they want and need to rely upon.Meanwhile, much less attention has been paid to the responsibility of health professionals in mitigating overdiagnosis. Only a few studies have examined health professionals’ perspectives on overdiagnosis, and ongoing research suggests that health professionals (both public health officials and clinicians) rarely feel in charge of tackling overdiagnosis. Overdiagnosis seems less important to them, and they rely on and trust the authority of their colleagues and feel obliged to follow screening guidelines and public health directives.Research among lay people shows that people want to be informed about overdiagnosis and rely on their doctors to provide them with this information; people trust their doctors to make decisions in their best interests. In contrast, it is unclear whether health professionals are aware of the public’s expectations regarding overdiagnosis and of their own responsibility and opportunities to limit overdiagnosis.Objectives This workshop focuses on health professionals’ potential and responsibility to mitigate overdiagnosis. We will share research findings and theoretical insights on health professionals’ perspectives on overdiagnosis and on the screening-related dynamics between citizens, their doctors, the healthcare structures and the prevailing health culture. We will invite the participants to discuss this information in small groups and to exchange their ideas on how they, as health professionals, could address overdiagnosis, which obstacles they expect and how to tackle these.Learning Outcomes After the workshop, participants will have insight into the intra and interpersonal factors and the societal processes that affect their approach to overdiagnosis. We hope this will encourage further reflection and discussion with their colleagues in their daily practice.We would like to audio record this workshop and analyse the content of the discussions to further enrich the scientific base about health professionals’ perspectives on overdiagnosis . Participants will be asked to sign an informed consent form.Conclusions We hope this will encourage further reflection and discussion about health professionals’ potential and responsibility with their colleagues in their daily practice.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Ghent University, Gent, Belgium"
      ],
      "name": "Veerle Piessens"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark",
        "The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway"
      ],
      "name": "Alexandra Brandt Ryborg Jønsson"
    }
  ],
  "title": "030 Overdiagnosis: what is my responsibility?",
  "uid": "4e6b4ac9-0107-5a4c-9442-9df66104c06c"
}