Alakasutus on näiteks preventiivsete tegevuste tegemata jätmine (Pap-test, vaktsineerimine, vererõhu mõõtmine) või kroonilisele haigele teatud ravimite määramata jätmine.
Standard examples of underuse include failures to provide appropriate preventive services to eligible patients (e.g., Pap smears, flu shots for elderly patients, screening for hypertension) and proven medications for chronic illnesses (steroid inhalers for asthmatics; aspirin, beta-blockers, and lipid-lowering agents for patients who have suffered a recent myocardial infarction).
