Comparative analysis of diagnostic probability estimates of some common diagnoses among family doctors, medical residents, and medical students reveals negative correlation between age and estimate of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
BACKGROUND
Patients with their given complaints and symptoms expect certain diagnoses to be estimated with the same probability when seen by different family doctors. These estimations showed extreme variation among family doctors in Switzerland. The present study investigated whether there is any difference in the probabilities of the same diagnoses given by Hungarian doctors and, if so, what the responsible factors are. Estimates given by specialists, residents of family medicine, and medical students were also compared.


METHODS
In this cross-sectional study, 484 family physicians, 124 medical residents, and 148 medical students completed a questionnaire that assessed the diagnostic probability of six clinical scenarios.


RESULTS
Medians and ranges of probability were almost the same in both countries. Significant negative correlation was observed between age and the estimation of COPD among the family physicians (Spearman's r=-0.231, p<0.001). This correlation was even more expressed in men and was independent of gender, previous specialization in internal medicine or pulmonology, and the location of practice. Family physicians rated the probability of myocardial infarction higher than the residents (p<0.01). They also rated the probability of congestive heart disease higher than the medical students (p<0.001). Women residents and students gave higher estimates in almost all clinical settings than did men.


CONCLUSIONS
Diagnostic estimates of the same clinical scenarios vary widely among Hungarian family doctors, residents, and medical students. The independent inverse relationship between the doctor's age and his/her estimate of the probability of COPD underscores the need to intensify education on this disease.
Vajer
Péter
P
Department of Family Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Szélvári
Agnes
A
Vörös
Krisztián
K
Torzsa
Pétér
P
Eory
Ajándék
A
Dunai
Klaudia
K
Tamás
Ferenc
F
Kalabay
László
L
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D007388:Internal Medicine; D007396:Internship and Residency; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011336:Probability; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013557:Switzerland; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult