Evidence on Use of Clinical Reasoning Checklists for Diagnostic Error Reduction

Issue Brief Number 3

Introduction
Rationale for Use
Content-Specific Versus Process-Focused Checklists
Factors That Influence Effectiveness of Checklists
Why Checklists for Diagnosis Are Not Performing as Expected
Conclusions and Next Steps
References

Prepared for:

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
www.ahrq.gov

Contract Number HHSP233201500022I/75P00119F37006

Prepared by:

Institute of Medical Education Research Rotterdam, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam,
The Netherlands
Laura Zwaan, Ph.D.
Justine Staal, M.Sc.

This project was funded under contract HHSP233201500022I/75P00119F37006 to MedStar Health Institute for Quality and Safety (MIQS) from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The authors are consultants to MIQS and are solely responsible for this document’s contents, findings, and conclusions, which do not necessarily represent the views of AHRQ. Readers should not interpret any statement in this product as an official position of AHRQ or of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. None of the authors has any affiliation or financial involvement that conflicts with the material presented in this product.

Public Availability Notice. This product is made publicly available by AHRQ and may be used and reprinted without permission in the United States for noncommercial purposes, unless materials are clearly noted as copyrighted in the document. No one may reproduce copyrighted materials without the permission of the copyright holders. Users outside the United States must get permission from AHRQ to reprint or translate this product. Anyone wanting to reproduce this product for sale must contact AHRQ for permission.

Citation of the source is appreciated.

Suggested citation: Zwaan L, Staal J. Evidence on Use of Clinical Reasoning Checklists for Diagnostic Error Reduction. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; September 2020. AHRQ Publication No. 20-0040-3-EF.