Decision toolkit for better diagnostics in thyroid diseases
DIAMANT-SD study aims to increase awareness to avoid overdiagnosis and unsettling patients
Methods for diagnosing thyroid diseases are diverse, but not always helpful or necessary for those affected. The first general practice guidelines for the clarification of thyroid nodules will be published in 2025. These make it clear that blood tests and especially ultrasound examinations are often used too early or without a clear medical reason. Harmless thyroid changes can unsettle patients and often lead to examinations and surgical interventions that could be avoided. The new research project “DIAMANT-SD” (Thyroid diagnostics in outpatient care) of the Institute of General Practice (Director: Prof. Dr. Thomas Kühlein) at Uniklinikum Erlangen aims to change this by implementing guidelines and improving risk communication.
Toolkit for general practice
The research team led by Prof. Dr. Thomas Kühlein, Director of General Practice in Erlangen, the physicians Dr. Lisette Warkentin and Dr. Victoria Koschemann, and the psychologist Dr. Susann Hueber will develop a new evidence-based tool based on guidelines in the coming months: a diagnostic toolkit to support general practitioners. The toolkit includes online training for the appropriate clarification of thyroid diseases, but also on the risks of excessive diagnostics. For patient consultations, a digital orientation aid will be developed to facilitate the decision for or against further examinations. Using the digital feedback module, physicians can also compare whether they perform more diagnostics than other practices. Patients will also receive information material from the toolkit.
About the study
The scientific project team is developing the diagnostic toolkit with general and specialized physicians from two regional practice and health networks: Unternehmung Gesundheit Franken UGeF GmbH & Co. KG in Forchheim and Qualität und Effizienz eG in Nuremberg. General practices in Erlangen and all of Northern Bavaria, in Thuringia and in Saxony will be able to test the toolkit. Half of the practices in the study will be trained to use the diagnostic toolkit. The other half will continue to work as before. Afterwards, the research team will compare whether the toolkit supports physicians and patients in difficult decisions and whether unnecessary examinations can be avoided. If the model proves successful, it could also help in other areas of care – wherever medical decisions lead to uncertainty, where too many diagnostic tests are being ordered, and where understandable communication about the benefits, limits, and possible consequences of medical measures is important.
DIAMANT-SD will run for three years until 2028 and is funded with around 1.5 million euros by the Innovation Fund of the Federal Joint Committee. Project partners are the general medicine departments of the Technical University of Dresden and the University Hospital Jena, GWQ ServicePlus AG as a representative of health insurance companies, and the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians Thuringia. Also closely involved are the citizen advisory boards of the general medicine departments in Erlangen, Dresden, and Jena. National and international experts from health services research, endocrinology, and general medicine are supporting the project.
Further information:
Dr. Susann Hueber
Phone: +49 9131 85 31140
susann.hueber@uk-erlangen.de