November 10, 2022 — CIHI and Choosing Wisely Canada have been working together since 2015 to report on the overuse of tests, treatments and procedures in Canada. This follow-up report to 2017’s Unnecessary Care in Canada examines 12 measures across community care, emergency care and hospital care. It shows how much progress Canada’s health care systems have made in reducing low-value care by looking at trends and variations in use over time and across the country. This report also provides information and ideas that may inform clinicians, decision-makers and policy-makers about further reducing overused tests and treatments.
Key findings
- Use of 8 of the 12 selected tests and treatments declined by 10% or more between 2014–2015 and 2019–2020.
- Overuse remains an issue, and further reductions in low-value care are both possible and necessary.
- To achieve widespread change, we need system-level changes in addition to continued efforts from front-line clinicians and patients.
Featured material
Progress report
Take a look at the trends in overuse of 12 tests and treatments across community, emergency and hospital care settings in Canada, along with variations across provinces and territories.
Data tables
Explore trends in overuse of 12 tests and treatments at national and provincial/territorial levels, as well as overuse rates by patient characteristics, clinical characteristics and hospital peer groups.
Methodology notes
Learn more about the methodologies used to analyze overuse of 12 tests and treatments across community, emergency and hospital care settings in Canada.
Additional material
Unnecessary Care in Canada (2017)
Review the products from our 2017 release examining 8 Choosing Wisely Canada recommendations.
Taking action on overuse
Check out initiatives that are happening across Canada to reduce overuse.
Choosing Wisely Canada
Learn about Choosing Wisely Canada, the national voice for reducing unnecessary tests and treatments in Canada.