Scoliosis Screening

[jggardin]

Have you seen a time when too much testing was done? How would you change this habit? Why are people afraid to change? How do patients know what is in their best interest and when to refuse care?

As DNP students at the University of Utah College of Nursing we decided to research routine screenings that are done that may not be necessary. One topic of controversy is the efficacy of routine scoliosis screening. There are some who feel that routine scoliosis screening may not be the best use of resources and time. Scoliosis screening is still frequently done in pediatric clinics and schools, but is it necessary? Please click the link below to view our prezi presentation. We would love to know other nurses opinions on the topic.

http://prezi.com/hjlmqgsr8kx3/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share

[firstinfamily, RN]

One of the reasons I voted yes was that early intervention for scoilosis can make a huge impact on the growth and development of the child. Having taken care of adults both young and elderly who did not have interventions, the repercussions can be devastating. They can lead to all kinds of musculoskeletal problems with balance, gait, height, back pain, malalignment of the lower extremities which can lead to multiple other issues. This particular screening is absolutely necessary.

[JBudd, MSN]

Friend of mine in high school wasn't diagnosed until our junior year, and that only because a bunch of us were at her house doing makeup together. One girl looked at her reflection and asked why one shoulder was higher than the other? Friend spent 18 months in a body cast.

Yeah, do screenings. This should have been found long before her spine was that out of whack. How long does it really take, to palpate a stretched spine to see if it straight, and look at iliac crests/shoulder blades to see if they are even?

[Altra, BSN, RN]

If I were going to target a particular screening or diagnostic test ... it sure wouldn't be one which is noninvasive, requires no equipment, and costs only a trained provider's time.

OP, can you discuss how you & your colleagues decided on targeting this particular screening for investigation? What conclusions have you drawn from your literature review? And how do you plan to incorporate the results of anonymous polling into your study?