[Paediatricians report an increased demand for diagnostic tests for reassurance].

Objective: Test decisions depend on the context in which health care is delivered. We interviewed paediatricians about perceived societal developments and their influence on diagnostic testing.

Design: Qualitative interview study.

Methods: Semi-structured in-depth interviews with 20 practicing Dutch paediatricians.

Results: Paediatricians associated societal developments, such as decreased risk acceptance, with perceived pressure from parents to perform tests. They were motivated to restrict unnecessary tests to avoid harming the child.

Conclusion: Besides motivation and effort of health care providers, appropriate testing requires system-level actions, such as counteracting a culture of blame and considering societal interests in guideline recommendations.