PMID- 27631589 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20170623 LR - 20181113 IS - 1432-1076 (Electronic) IS - 0340-6199 (Linking) VI - 175 IP - 10 DP - 2016 Oct TI - A national physician survey of diagnostic error in paediatrics. PG - 1387-92 LID - 10.1007/s00431-016-2772-0 [doi] AB - This cross-sectional survey explored paediatric physician perspectives regarding diagnostic errors. All paediatric consultants and specialist registrars in Ireland were invited to participate in this anonymous online survey. The response rate for the study was 54 % (n = 127). Respondents had a median of 9-year clinical experience (interquartile range (IQR) 4-20 years). A diagnostic error was reported at least monthly by 19 (15.0 %) respondents. Consultants reported significantly less diagnostic errors compared to trainees (p value = 0.01). Cognitive error was the top-ranked contributing factor to diagnostic error, with incomplete history and examination considered to be the principal cognitive error. Seeking a second opinion and close follow-up of patients to ensure that the diagnosis is correct were the highest-ranked, clinician-based solutions to diagnostic error. Inadequate staffing levels and excessive workload were the most highly ranked system-related and situational factors. Increased access to and availability of consultants and experts was the most highly ranked system-based solution to diagnostic error. CONCLUSION: We found a low level of self-perceived diagnostic error in an experienced group of paediatricians, at variance with the literature and warranting further clarification. The results identify perceptions on the major cognitive, system-related and situational factors contributing to diagnostic error and also key preventative strategies. WHAT IS KNOWN: * Diagnostic errors are an important source of preventable patient harm and have an estimated incidence of 10-15 %. * They are multifactorial in origin and include cognitive, system-related and situational factors. What is New: * We identified a low rate of self-perceived diagnostic error in contrast to the existing literature. * Incomplete history and examination, inadequate staffing levels and excessive workload are cited as the principal contributing factors to diagnostic error in this study. FAU - Perrem, Lucy M AU - Perrem LM AD - Department of Respiratory Medicine, Children's University Hospital, Temple Street, Dublin 1, Ireland. lucyperrem@gmail.com. FAU - Fanshawe, Thomas R AU - Fanshawe TR AD - Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Oxford University, Oxford, UK. FAU - Sharif, Farhana AU - Sharif F AD - Department of Paediatrics, Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar, Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland. FAU - Pluddemann, Annette AU - Pluddemann A AD - Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Oxford University, Oxford, UK. FAU - O'Neill, Michael B AU - O'Neill MB AD - Department of Paediatrics, Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar, Co., Mayo, Ireland. LA - eng PT - Journal Article DEP - 20160908 PL - Germany TA - Eur J Pediatr JT - European journal of pediatrics JID - 7603873 SB - IM MH - Attitude of Health Personnel MH - *Clinical Competence MH - Cross-Sectional Studies MH - Diagnostic Errors/prevention & control/*statistics & numerical data MH - Female MH - Humans MH - Incidence MH - Ireland MH - Male MH - Pediatricians/*psychology MH - Pediatrics/statistics & numerical data MH - Self Report MH - Surveys and Questionnaires OTO - NOTNLM OT - Attitude of health personnel OT - Clinical competence OT - Diagnostic errors OT - Misdiagnosis OT - Physician practise patterns EDAT- 2016/09/16 06:00 MHDA- 2017/06/24 06:00 CRDT- 2016/09/16 06:00 PHST- 2016/06/23 00:00 [received] PHST- 2016/08/30 00:00 [accepted] PHST- 2016/08/05 00:00 [revised] PHST- 2016/09/16 06:00 [entrez] PHST- 2016/09/16 06:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2017/06/24 06:00 [medline] AID - 10.1007/s00431-016-2772-0 [pii] AID - 10.1007/s00431-016-2772-0 [doi] PST - ppublish SO - Eur J Pediatr. 2016 Oct;175(10):1387-92. doi: 10.1007/s00431-016-2772-0. Epub 2016 Sep 8.