Table 1.

Summary of the characteristics of included studies (N = 16)

CharacteristicIncluded studies, n (%)
Country
  UK6 (38)
  The Netherlands4 (25)
  US3 (19)
  Australia2 (13)
  Norway1 (6)
Study design
  Cluster RCT15 (94)
  RCT1 (6)
Setting
  Single centre2 (13)
  Multicentre14 (88)
Indication for medical testsa
  Specified9 (56)
  Low back pain4 (25)
  Othersb5 (31)
  Not specified7 (44)
Type of medical testsa
  Laboratory tests8 (50)
  Imaging11 (69)
  Physiology3 (19)

  • ↵a Some studies were applicable to >1 category.

  • ↵b Many other conditions were addressed, but most of them were evaluated in only one of the included studies (see Supplementary Table S1 for detailed information about each condition). RCT = randomised controlled trial.