Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34420276›Full record

ArticleDiagnosis (Berlin, Germany)2021

Analyzing diagnostic errors in the acute setting: a process-driven approach.

Jacqueline A Griffin, Kevin Carr, Kerrin Bersani, Nicholas Piniella, Daniel Motta-Calderon, Maria Malik, Alison Garber, Kumiko Schnock, Ronen Rozenblum, David W Bates and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Diagnosis (Berlin, Germany), 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Jacqueline A GriffinNortheastern University, Boston, MA, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7729-1748
Kevin CarrBrigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Kerrin BersaniBrigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Nicholas PiniellaBrigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Daniel Motta-CalderonBrigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Maria MalikBrigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Alison GarberBrigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Kumiko SchnockBrigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Ronen RozenblumBrigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
David W BatesBrigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Jeffrey L SchnipperBrigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Anuj K DalalBrigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.

Funding

AHRQ HHS R18 HS026613
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesWe describe an approach for analyzing failures in diagnostic processes in a small, enriched cohort of general medicine patients who expired during hospitalization and experienced medical error. Our objective was to delineate a systematic strategy for identifying frequent and significant failures in the diagnostic process to inform strategies for preventing adverse events due to diagnostic error.

methodsTwo clinicians independently reviewed detailed records of purposively sampled cases identified from established institutional case review forums and assessed the likelihood of diagnostic error using the Safer Dx instrument. Each reviewer used the modified Diagnostic Error Evaluation and Research (DEER) taxonomy, revised for acute care (41 possible failure points across six process dimensions), to characterize the frequency of failure points (FPs) and significant FPs in the diagnostic process.

resultsOf 166 cases with medical error, 16 were sampled: 13 (81.3%) had one or more diagnostic error(s), and a total of 113 FPs and 30 significant FPs were identified. A majority of significant FPs (63.3%) occurred in "Diagnostic Information and Patient Follow-up" and "Patient and Provider Encounter and Initial Assessment" process dimensions. Fourteen (87.5%) cases had a significant FP in at least one of these dimensions.

conclusionsFailures in the diagnostic process occurred across multiple dimensions in our purposively sampled cohort. A systematic analytic approach incorporating the modified DEER taxonomy, revised for acute care, offered critical insights into key failures in the diagnostic process that could serve as potential targets for preventative interventions.

Indexed as

Medical ErrorsDiagnostic ErrorsElectron Spin Resonance SpectroscopyHumansacute careDEER taxonomydiagnostic error

Identifiers

PMID34420276
PMCPMC8865394

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.