Differential diagnosis checklists reduce diagnostic error differentially: A randomised experiment.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Wrong and missed diagnoses contribute substantially to medical error. Can a prompt to generate alternative diagnoses (prompt) or a differential diagnosis checklist (DDXC) increase diagnostic accuracy? How do these interventions affect the diagnostic process and self-monitoring?

Methods

Advanced medical students (N = 90) were randomly assigned to one of four conditions to complete six computer-based patient cases: group 1 (prompt) was instructed to write down all diagnoses they considered while acquiring diagnostic test results and to finally rank them. Groups 2 and 3 received the same instruction plus a list of 17 differential diagnoses for the chief complaint of the patient. For half of the cases, the DDXC contained the correct diagnosis (DDXC+), and for the ot

SUBMITTER: Kammer JE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9290564 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature