The global burden of diagnostic errors in primary care. - PubMed - NCBI

The global burden of diagnostic errors in primary care. - PubMed - NCBI

BMJ Qual Saf. 2016 Aug 16. pii: bmjqs-2016-005401. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2016-005401. [Epub ahead of print]

The global burden of diagnostic errors in primary care.

Singh H1, Schiff GD2, Graber ML3, Onakpoya I4, Thompson MJ5.

Author information

Abstract

Diagnosis is one of the most important tasks performed by primary care physicians. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently prioritized patient safety areas in primary care, and included diagnostic errors as a high-priority problem. In addition, a recent report from the Institute of Medicine in the USA, 'Improving Diagnosis in Health Care', concluded that most people will likely experience a diagnostic error in their lifetime. In this narrative review, we discuss the global significance, burden and contributory factors related to diagnostic errors in primary care. We synthesize available literature to discuss the types of presenting symptoms and conditions most commonly affected. We then summarize interventions based on available data and suggest next steps to reduce the global burden of diagnostic errors. Research suggests that we are unlikely to find a 'magic bullet' and confirms the need for a multifaceted approach to understand and address the many systems and cognitive issues involved in diagnostic error. Because errors involve many common conditions and are prevalent across all countries, the WHO's leadership at a global level will be instrumental to address the problem. Based on our review, we recommend that the WHO consider bringing together primary care leaders, practicing frontline clinicians, safety experts, policymakers, the health IT community, medical education and accreditation organizations, researchers from multiple disciplines, patient advocates, and funding bodies among others, to address the many common challenges and opportunities to reduce diagnostic error. This could lead to prioritization of practice changes needed to improve primary care as well as setting research priorities for intervention development to reduce diagnostic error.

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KEYWORDS:

Diagnostic errors; Health policy; Information technology; Patient safety; Primary care

PMID:

 

27530239

 

DOI:

 

10.1136/bmjqs-2016-005401

[PubMed - as supplied by publisher] 

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New Study Joins Chorus of Calls for Reducing Diagnostic Errors

A new AHRQ-funded study echoes calls to reduce diagnostic errors by suggesting that the World Health Organization bring together experts to address the global challenge. The study recommended collaboration among primary care leaders, practicing clinicians, safety experts, policymakers and health information technology experts to prioritize needed practice changes and set research priorities that would lead to error reductions. The study, by AHRQ grantee Hardeep Singh, M.D., of the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, follows a National Academy of Medicine report, “Improving Diagnosis in Health Care,” that concluded most people in their lifetime will experience an episode in which a diagnosis is missed, is inappropriately delayed, or is wrong. AHRQ is following up on that report by hosting a national summit on Sept. 28 to help prioritize U.S. diagnostic safety research. Access the agenda and register to attend via webcast. To learn more about Dr. Singh’s work with AHRQ to improve diagnostic safety, read a new AHRQ grantee profile. Access the abstract of Dr. Singh’s study, “The Global Burden of Diagnostic Errors in Primary Care,” which appeared in the August 16 issue of BMJ Quality and Safety, or the recent AHRQ Views blog post by Agency Director Andy Bindman, M.D., on the challenges of improving diagnostic safety.