March 2017 PMID 28097303

Clinicians' Expectations of the Benefits and Harms of Treatments, Screening, and Tests: A Systematic Review.

Tammy C Hoffmann, Chris Del Mar

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Mentions

122
Peak: 5 in Oct 2025
across 5 sources since Mar 2020

Extended reach

248,003
potential audience

Total likes

63

Video views

287

Mentions per month

Mar 2020 – Oct 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News44 articles
  • Facebook42 posts
  • X / Twitter24 posts
  • Blogs10 articles
  • YouTube2 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions largely agree with the article, emphasizing that both clinicians and patients tend to overestimate benefits and underestimate harms, as seen in statements like 'clinicians show substantial bias favoring over-treatment.' The tone is analytical and concerned, with references to structured studies and calls for improved education, reflecting deep engagement and recognition of the article's potential importance for healthcare practices.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge that clinicians tend to overestimate benefits and underestimate harms, reflecting agreement with the article's findings.

InterestHigh interest

The posts show high interest by referencing detailed studies and emphasizing the importance of addressing these misconceptions.

EngagementHigh engagement

Many users cite specific research, critique clinical decision-making, and discuss implications for practice, indicating deep engagement.

ImpactHigh impact

The discussions highlight a significant concern about medical over-treatment and emphasize the need for better education and calibration, suggesting high impact.

Abstract in brief

  • Clinicians often have inaccurate expectations about the benefits and harms of treatments, screening, and tests, which can influence decision-making and lead to overuse of interventions.
  • A systematic review of 48 studies involving over 13,000 clinicians found that most clinicians poorly estimated both benefits and harms, frequently overestimating benefits and underestimating harms.
  • These findings suggest a need for improved education and communication to ensure clinicians have accurate expectations, potentially reducing unnecessary or harmful medical interventions.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Margaret McCartney
@mgtmccartney · X

Here is problem. There are few people in media talking about on being harmed via screening: we cognitively are over optimistic about interventions and instead frame as 'just in case' 'better safe than sorry' etc 'https://t.co/gN9ac7m6fB https://t.co/OyqT0KYHQT

Oct 14, 2025 · 33 likes · 4 shares · 31,277 followers View post →
Adam Rodman
@AdamRodmanMD · X

@nsrosenberg @eemoin Yes, there is -- the best data we have suggests we're terrible at estimating both harms AND benefits of our therapeutics, but MUCH more skewed towards underestimating harms (meta-analysis here: https://t.co/9EsFcsSv1U)

Jan 8, 2022 · 8 likes · 3 shares · 17,944 followers View post →
Ash Paul
@pash22 · X

Clinicians’ Expectations of the Benefits and Harms of Treatments, Screening, and Tests: A Systematic Review https://t.co/NrZ8OPQ9EU via @Tammy_Hoffmann & @Chris_B_Del_Mar

Jan 8, 2021 · 5 likes · 2 shares · 32,305 followers View post →
Kari Tikkinen
@KariTikkinen · X

@TikkanenVesa @AllenFrancesMD Both patients and doctors often underestimate harms and overestimate benefits Doctors: https://t.co/uD1U9xhs78 Patients: https://t.co/wYIBjeLQSp

May 16, 2024 · 4 likes · 2 shares · 8,823 followers View post →
Alexander Chaitoff
@AlexChaitoff · X

And how are medical professionals at estimating treatment benefits? Also not necessarily great - one review of 48 studies (including 13 011 clinicians) found providers overestimated benefit for 32% of outcomes and underestimated harm for 34%. 9/14 https://t.co/j9GLRKXYss

Jul 19, 2021 · 4 likes · 1,654 followers View post →
Nunca dejar que otros paguen por tus errores
@MonaresTI · X

10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.8254 Entoces sobre estimamos los beneficios e infra valoramos los riesgos. La pregunta es ¿comó recalibrar adecuadamente?

Apr 8, 2020 · 3 likes · 7,261 followers View post →

All mentions

DP
@dpedin · X

RT @mgtmccartney: Here is problem. There are few people in media talking about on being harmed via screening: we cognitively are over optim…

Oct 14, 2025 · 4 shares · 372 followers View post →
Eddy Lang
@EddyLang1 · X

RT @mgtmccartney: Here is problem. There are few people in media talking about on being harmed via screening: we cognitively are over optim…

Oct 14, 2025 · 4 shares · 3,849 followers View post →
David Oliver (also on Blue Sky)
@mancunianmedic · X

RT @mgtmccartney: Here is problem. There are few people in media talking about on being harmed via screening: we cognitively are over optim…

Oct 14, 2025 · 4 shares · 71,313 followers View post →
Jaen
@SilverFoxyRed · X

RT @mgtmccartney: Here is problem. There are few people in media talking about on being harmed via screening: we cognitively are over optim…

Oct 14, 2025 · 4 shares · 689 followers View post →
Margaret McCartney
@mgtmccartney · X

Here is problem. There are few people in media talking about on being harmed via screening: we cognitively are over optimistic about interventions and instead frame as 'just in case' 'better safe than sorry' etc 'https://t.co/gN9ac7m6fB https://t.co/OyqT0KYHQT

Oct 14, 2025 · 33 likes · 4 shares · 31,277 followers View post →
Hampus Nugin
@HNugin · X

RT @KariTikkinen: @TikkanenVesa @AllenFrancesMD Both patients and doctors often underestimate harms and overestimate benefits Doctors: ht…

May 16, 2024 · 2 shares · 90 followers View post →
Kari Tikkinen
@KariTikkinen · X

RT @KariTikkinen: @TikkanenVesa @AllenFrancesMD Both patients and doctors often underestimate harms and overestimate benefits Doctors: ht…

May 16, 2024 · 2 shares · 8,823 followers View post →
Kari Tikkinen
@KariTikkinen · X

@TikkanenVesa @AllenFrancesMD Both patients and doctors often underestimate harms and overestimate benefits Doctors: https://t.co/uD1U9xhs78 Patients: https://t.co/wYIBjeLQSp

May 16, 2024 · 4 likes · 2 shares · 8,823 followers View post →
Kindly #deprescribe -- taper psychiatric drugs
@Altostrata · X

@shvogt @hanna_pssd Hoffmann, T. C., & Del Mar, C. (2017). Clinicians’ Expectations of the Benefits and Harms of Treatments, Screening, and Tests: A Systematic Review. JAMA Internal Medicine, 177(3), 407. https://t.co/VUljbmHQ5X

Aug 22, 2023 · 6,583 followers View post →
Choosing Wisely Brasil
@ChooseWiselyBR · X

Clinicians’ Expectations of the Benefits and Harms of Treatments, Screening, and Tests https://t.co/ygnigKiYaO

Dec 8, 2022 · 1 like · 3,891 followers View post →
Alexa Scientista Data
@Scientista_Data · X

https://t.co/vS8gUkxJia https://t.co/JmvBRaqmPM https://t.co/B4Ld70OLsm Can real-world data replace RCTs? https://t.co/bRZ9BwXSp4 https://t.co/v8zywoohGl https://t.co/RHJ9nGqOAI https://t.co/lj92qzKtkh https://t.co/pF6a8FzFYy https://t.co/6JGL0QyefV https://t.co/PmhFKmlp5K 8/

Feb 20, 2022 · 804 followers View post →
Mad Populist
@madpopulist · X

@PauloStFlexa @NunleyBrett @disclosetv This isn’t simply a question of expertise. Despite their training, clinicians show substantial bias favoring over-treatment. Clinicians' Expectations of the Benefits and Harms of Treatments, Screening, and Tests: A Systematic Review. Tammy C Hoffmann et al. JAMA Intern Med. 2017 https://t.co/Nr5pk07YyY

Feb 1, 2022 · 892 followers View post →
Noah Rosenberg, MD
@nsrosenberg · X

RT @AdamRodmanMD: @nsrosenberg @eemoin Yes, there is -- the best data we have suggests we're terrible at estimating both harms AND benefits…

Jan 8, 2022 · 3 shares · 1,363 followers View post →
Jen Readlynn, MD, FHM (she/her)
@jenreadlynn · X

RT @AdamRodmanMD: @nsrosenberg @eemoin Yes, there is -- the best data we have suggests we're terrible at estimating both harms AND benefits…

Jan 8, 2022 · 3 shares · 1,958 followers View post →
Adam Rodman
@AdamRodmanMD · X

@nsrosenberg @eemoin Yes, there is -- the best data we have suggests we're terrible at estimating both harms AND benefits of our therapeutics, but MUCH more skewed towards underestimating harms (meta-analysis here: https://t.co/9EsFcsSv1U)

Jan 8, 2022 · 8 likes · 3 shares · 17,944 followers View post →
Alexa Scientista Data
@Scientista_Data · X

@Waltlaw69 Fair point Fortunately the provided links are going into a lot of detail with specific criticisms Also https://t.co/hnAdru66uH https://t.co/Gv4dm7PWfC https://t.co/RQjjZcKicv https://t.co/xf2fGwh5jX https://t.co/7yuwW2O423

Oct 20, 2021 · 1 like · 804 followers View post →
Alexander Chaitoff
@AlexChaitoff · X

And how are medical professionals at estimating treatment benefits? Also not necessarily great - one review of 48 studies (including 13 011 clinicians) found providers overestimated benefit for 32% of outcomes and underestimated harm for 34%. 9/14 https://t.co/j9GLRKXYss

Jul 19, 2021 · 4 likes · 1,654 followers View post →
Aoife Molloy
@DrAoifeMolloy · X

RT @pash22: Clinicians’ Expectations of the Benefits and Harms of Treatments, Screening, and Tests: A Systematic Review https://t.co/NrZ8OP…

Jan 8, 2021 · 2 shares · 1,937 followers View post →
SystematicReviewBot
@EvidenceRobot · X

RT @pash22: Clinicians’ Expectations of the Benefits and Harms of Treatments, Screening, and Tests: A Systematic Review https://t.co/NrZ8OP…

Jan 8, 2021 · 2 shares · 6,701 followers View post →
Ash Paul
@pash22 · X

Clinicians’ Expectations of the Benefits and Harms of Treatments, Screening, and Tests: A Systematic Review https://t.co/NrZ8OPQ9EU via @Tammy_Hoffmann & @Chris_B_Del_Mar

Jan 8, 2021 · 5 likes · 2 shares · 32,305 followers View post →
Nunca dejar que otros paguen por tus errores
@MonaresTI · X

10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.8254 Entoces sobre estimamos los beneficios e infra valoramos los riesgos. La pregunta es ¿comó recalibrar adecuadamente?

Apr 8, 2020 · 3 likes · 7,261 followers View post →
Jan Vyjidak
@janvyjidak · X

RT @pash22: @kimbbellard @JulianTreadwel1 Yup, C 'Clinicians' Expectations of the Benefits and Harms of Treatments, Screening, and Tests: A…

Mar 5, 2020 · 2 shares · 4,145 followers View post →
Prof. Tammy Hoffmann
@Tammy_Hoffmann · X

RT @pash22: @kimbbellard @JulianTreadwel1 Yup, C 'Clinicians' Expectations of the Benefits and Harms of Treatments, Screening, and Tests: A…

Mar 4, 2020 · 2 shares · 1,840 followers View post →
Ash Paul
@pash22 · X

@kimbbellard @JulianTreadwel1 Yup, C 'Clinicians' Expectations of the Benefits and Harms of Treatments, Screening, and Tests: A Systematic Review' https://t.co/mlsZ52llqs via @Tammy_Hoffmann & @Chris_B_Del_Mar @trishgreenhalgh

Mar 4, 2020 · 1 like · 2 shares · 32,305 followers View post →