Diagnostic error in internal medicine.
BACKGROUND
The goal of this study was to determine the relative contribution of system-related and cognitive components to diagnostic error and to develop a comprehensive working taxonomy.


METHODS
One hundred cases of diagnostic error involving internists were identified through autopsy discrepancies, quality assurance activities, and voluntary reports. Each case was evaluated to identify system-related and cognitive factors underlying error using record reviews and, if possible, provider interviews.


RESULTS
Ninety cases involved injury, including 33 deaths. The underlying contributions to error fell into 3 natural categories: "no fault," system-related, and cognitive. Seven cases reflected no-fault errors alone. In the remaining 93 cases, we identified 548 different system-related or cognitive factors (5.9 per case). System-related factors contributed to the diagnostic error in 65% of the cases and cognitive factors in 74%. The most common system-related factors involved problems with policies and procedures, inefficient processes, teamwork, and communication. The most common cognitive problems involved faulty synthesis. Premature closure, ie, the failure to continue considering reasonable alternatives after an initial diagnosis was reached, was the single most common cause. Other common causes included faulty context generation, misjudging the salience of findings, faulty perception, and errors arising from the use of heuristics. Faulty or inadequate knowledge was uncommon.


CONCLUSIONS
Diagnostic error is commonly multifactorial in origin, typically involving both system-related and cognitive factors. The results identify the dominant problems that should be targeted for additional research and early reduction; they also further the development of a comprehensive taxonomy for classifying diagnostic errors.
Graber
Mark L
ML
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Northport, NY 11768, USA. mark.graber@med.va.gov
Franklin
Nancy
N
Gordon
Ruthanna
R
D001315:Australia; D019336:Cognitive Science / Q000379:methods; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000145:classification / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods