Clinical Inertia: A Wider Perspective and Proposed Classification Criteria

Abstract

Clinical inertia is very common in day-to-day practice, and the factors contributing to that can be physician-related, patient-related, or health-care-related. Clinical inertia is commonly described in chronic asymptomatic illness. We searched the PubMed and Scopus databases for original articles and reviews. Based on the search result, in this review article, we redefine various terminologies to avoid confusion and propose classification criteria for the early identification of clinical inertia. Clinical inertia is also present in acute illness and in symptomatic disease. Early identification of clinical inertia is difficult because of very vague terminologies which have been used interchangeably as well as because of the lack of definitive classification criteria. In this article, we redefine clinical inertia and propose criteria for early identification, which will be useful for both clinicians and academicians. This review will help clinicians to identify and rectify various aspects of clinical inertia.