A survey published in JAMA Internal Medicine examined residents' diagnostic error rates, finding diagnostic errors occur in up to 15 percent of patient encounters.
Researchers surveyed 266 internal medicine residents from June 2016 to March 2017. The residents were in programs at two university-affiliated hospitals and four community hospitals in Connecticut.
Here's what you should know:
1. About 20.5 percent of respondents were never taught to report diagnostic errors, while 52.5 percent were taught in medical school to report diagnostic errors and 49.8 percent were taught in residency programs to report them.
2. When diagnostic errors did occur, 41.1 percent were addressed through informal feedback, 36.4 percent were addressed through formal feedback and 8.7 percent were not addressed.
3. When it came to reporting diagnostic errors, 62.2 percent reported to attending physicians and 55.3 percent reported to senior residents. Nearly 54 percent used anonymous reporting systems.
4. About 40.9 percent of respondents felt uncomfortable reporting diagnostic errors.
5. About 42.8 percent indicated current reporting systems were unhelpful.
Based on the results, researchers called for improved education and comfort levels surrounding reporting errors to enhance patient care.
