Part 2 of 2: Measuring Physician Attitudes on Diagnostic Error
Eric Glazer Vice President, Physician Engagement and Social Media Best Doctors, Inc.
In Part 1, we looked at some of the barriers that physicians face related to diagnostic error. Now let’s explore a few solutions to help improve diagnosis.
The reporting of diagnostic errors has always been inconsistent. Not surprisingly, in a profession that all but demands 100 percent accuracy, the culture can frown on physicians admitting any level of fault.
When offered choices as to which action would most encourage the reporting of diagnostic errors, a majority (55 percent) of physicians felt confidentiality was an important enticement: Three out of ten (30 percent) physicians felt “incentives for hospitals from state and federal lawmakers to participate in confidential misdiagnosis data gathering and reporting” would be most helpful; 25 percent selected “confidential reporting/data-sharing on misdiagnosis as part of hospital accreditation.”
Some physicians believe that “increasing the number of national events and conferences devoted to misdiagnosis” (17 percent) would most encourage reporting, while others saw a strong need for “a national voluntary misdiagnosis reporting system” (17 percent). Only 11 percent thought “a local champion that would encourage reporting” was the most beneficial action.
Although encouraging physicians to report diagnostic errors is an important first step in elevating the issue, preventingerror is even more essential.
When physicians were asked what they believe would be useful in improving diagnosis, the top three answers selected were “education about commonly misdiagnosed conditions”, “providing clear diagnostic algorithms for critical conditions” and “development of a secure online environment for collaboration with peers on challenging cases.”
These promising solutions to improve diagnosis will form the backdrop for the Diagnostic Error in Medicine 7th International Conference in Atlanta, September 14-17. Organized by the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine (SIDM), the conference will bring together physicians, patients and public policy leaders to focus on topics including:
Reducing Diagnostic Error Through Improvement of Laboratory Test Utilization
Error, Overconfidence and Inadequate Feedback: Prospects for Systems Improvements
Clinical Decision Support — Bedside Tools for Better Diagnosis
Understanding and Misunderstanding Diagnostic Testing: A Source of Diagnostic Error
Placing Diagnosis Errors on the Policy Agenda
To learn more about SIDM and the conference, visit improvediagnosis.org.














