overscreening
Too many tests
Overscreening is excessive medical testing, particularly screening healthy people for diseases in ways that cause more harm than benefit.
The harm comes from false positives, unnecessary procedures, and anxiety: Overscreening for prostate cancer leads to treatments many men don't need.
The term reflects growing skepticism about the assumption that more testing is always better.
Finding harmless conditions unnecessarily
- false positivesIncorrect affirmative test results
- mammographyBreast cancer screening X-ray
- PSA testProstate cancer screening tool
- CT scanTomographic diagnostic imaging
unnecessary tests · colonoscopy · radiation exposure · genetic testing · MRI · ultrasound · blood tests · biomarkers
Excessive illness worry
- cyberchondriaAnxiety from online symptom-checking
- symptom checkerTool identifying possible illnesses
- self-diagnosisIdentifying your own condition
- doctor shoppingSeeking multiple prescribers for drugs
Careful, wise judgment
- vigilanceState of keen awareness
- overcautionExcessive care, limiting action
- risk aversionPreference for certainty
- hypervigilanceHeightened threat sensitivity
belt-and-suspenders · precautionary · thoroughness · meticulousness
Supported by verified data
- risk assessmentEvaluating likelihood of harm
- resource allocationAssigning available means strategically
- healthcare policyLaws governing medical services
- cost-effectivenessValue relative to expenditure
Characterizing by patterns
- background checksInvestigation of someone's past
- security theaterMeasures that reassure without protecting
- TSAAirport screening agency
- vettingEvaluating suitability through investigation
data mining · false flags · watchlists · clearance · monitoring · dragnet · airport security · biometrics
overdiagnosis
Finding harmless conditions unnecessarily
- false positivesIncorrect affirmative test results
- mammographyBreast cancer screening X-ray
- PSA testProstate cancer screening tool
unnecessary tests · CT scan · colonoscopy · radiation exposure · genetic testing · MRI · ultrasound · blood tests · biomarkers · medical imaging
hypochondria
Excessive illness worry
- cyberchondriaAnxiety from online symptom-checking
- symptom checkerTool identifying possible illnesses
- self-diagnosisIdentifying your own condition
doctor shopping · false alarm · second opinion · catastrophizing
prudence
Careful, wise judgment
- vigilanceState of keen awareness
- overcautionExcessive care, limiting action
- risk aversionPreference for certainty
hypervigilance · belt-and-suspenders · precautionary · thoroughness · meticulousness
evidence-based
Supported by verified data
- risk assessmentEvaluating likelihood of harm
- resource allocationAssigning available means strategically
- healthcare policyLaws governing medical services
cost-effectiveness · informed choice · defensive medicine · healthcare rationing
profiling
Characterizing by patterns
- background checksInvestigation of someone's past
- security theaterMeasures that reassure without protecting
- TSAAirport screening agency
vetting · data mining · false flags · watchlists · clearance · monitoring · dragnet · airport security · biometrics
over, screen, screening, screened, screens, screener, screeners, overscreened