AHRQ Patient Safety Network ► Diagnostic performance by medical students working individually or in teams.

AHRQ Patient Safety Network

Diagnostic performance by fourth year medical students improved when they worked in pairs, instead of working individually.JAMA. 2015;313:303-304.

Diagnostic performance by medical students working individually or in teams.

Hautz WE, Kämmer JE, Schauber SK, Spies CD, Gaissmaier W. JAMA. 2015;313:303-304.

This simulation study found that diagnostic performance by fourth-year medical students improved when they worked in pairs compared to when they worked individually. The authors suggest that working collaboratively allowed students to avoid cognitive biases that can impede timely and correct diagnosis. These results emphasize the importance of real-time feedback in the diagnostic process.

PubMed citation 
Available at 
Related news article 

Related Resources

COMMENTARY

Do Not Disturb!

Duffy FD, Cassel CK. AHRQ WebM&M [serial online]. October 2007.

COMMENTARY

Twelve tips on engaging learners in checking health care decisions.

Sibbald M, de Bruin AB, van Merrienboer JJ. Med Teach. 2014;36:111-115.

COMMENTARY

Speaking up about the dangers of the hidden curriculum.

Liao JM, Thomas EJ, Bell SK. Health Aff (Millwood). 2014;33:168-171.

COMMENTARY

Diagnostic error: untapped potential for improving patient safety?

Groszkruger D. J Healthc Risk Manag. 2014;34:38-43.

View all related resources...