• Paola Mosconi, Anna Roberto, Franca Braga, Lucia Napoli, Marco Anelli, and Cinzia Colombo.
• Laboratory for Medical Research and Consumers Involvement, Department of Public Health, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
• Eur J Public Health. 2019 Jun 1; 29 (3): 396-401.

BackgroundIn the framework of 'Doing more does not mean doing better - Choosing Wisely Italy' health professionals, general population and healthcare advocacy associations are widely involved. PartecipaSalute-Mario Negri IRCCS and Altronconsumo organized a survey in order to assess the opinions and behaviors of people toward unnecessary tests and drugs.MethodsAn online survey was distributed by Altroconsumo to a voluntary panel of 6304 Italian citizens covering the whole of the country and by PartecipaSalute-Mario Negri IRCCS through the PartecipaSalute website, e-mail lists, website articles, lay journals and Facebook.ResultsIn all 1006 people reached by Altroconsumo, and 355 volunteers of healthcare advocacy associations reached by PartecipaSalute responded. Respondents usually decides on their treatment together with the physician, respectively 50% for general population and 64% for volunteers of healthcare advocacy associations. The respondents are aware of the question of over-use of drugs and tests (80%), more often among the volunteers of healthcare advocacy associations (86%). Over-use is considered a problem mostly for economic reasons among the general population, while in the advocacy associations the risks for patients' health is considered more important.ConclusionThese findings suggest that patients do not always ask for more, especially if they receive an answer to their questions and clarifications about unnecessary treatments. There is a need for further understanding of the factors influencing decision-making aimed at achieving good care. Engaging the public and patients at all levels of healthcare is essential for a valuable use of health resources.© The Author 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.

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