Table 4

 Rankings for each group for perceptions of the utility of blood tests if they had been shown to be not useful in leading to a diagnosis

BenefitAthletesCoachesSSSM staff
SSSM, sports science and sports medicine.
Reassure that there is no serious problem1
No answer11
General reassurance/psychological331
Reassure that iron level is OK4
Reassure that diet is adequate5
Excludes/diagnoses some problems522
Tests general well-being3
Convince athletes that they are OK3
Placebo effect4