Thesis (M.A.)--Rowan University, 2008. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references.

Background: Experienced clinician educators readily identify trainees with diagnostic reasoning difficulties but often lack training to diagnose and remediate errors. Taxonomies of cognitive causes of diagnostic errors can inform remediation, but clinician educators need simple tools to identify, record, report and provide feedback on these errors. A checklist may help achieve these goals. Objectives: To characterise the cognitive contributions to diagnostic errors (CCDEs), trainees make in patient encounters, with the view to develop training and remediation programmes for medical residents preparing for specialist examinations. Secondly, to determine examiners’ perceptions of a checklist in order to document and provide feedback on CCDEs to unsuccessful candidates and trainees making diagnostic errors in examinations, on ward rounds and during bedside teaching activities. Methods: Thirty examiners used a 17-item checklist to identify and record CCDEs made by medical residents failing patient encounters in a national specialist examination. A survey was used to explore examiners perceptions of the checklist to document and provide feedback on these errors. Results: Ninety-eight of 264 patient encounters were failed (37%). Ninety-four completed checklists documented 691 CCDEs (median of 7 per encounter). Cardiac (28.7%) and neurology patients (18.1%) constituted approximately half of the failed encounters. By category: data synthesis was more problematic than data gathering, faulty knowledge or data interpretation (35.2% vs. 25.8% vs. 21.9% vs. 17.1%); χ2=48.2, (p<0.0001 for all comparisons). The 'top five’ individual CCDEs were failure to elicit history and/or examination findings; poor knowledge of clinical features (illness scripts); case synthesis (putting the case together) and misinterpretation of clinical findings. History and physical examination-related errors accounted for 60% of the 'top 5’ CCDEs, Examination-related errors were more common than history-related errors (p<0.0001). The survey of the checklist was completed by all (30) examiners. Seventy-three percent finished the checklist in less than five minutes, describing it as comprehensive and easy to use. The majority (96.7%) thought the checklist could be a better way of providing structured feedback to unsuccessful candidates. Most examiners (93.3%) considered it a useful way of guiding bedside teaching for residents preparing for specialist examinations, and 76.7% thought it could improve feedback on CCDEs to unsuccessful candidates and guide remediation and training. Conclusion: A 17-item checklist identified three priority CCDEs which require focussed remediation and training in South African medical residency programmes: improving clinical skills, developing adequate illness scripts and 'putting a case together’. This does not require extensive pedagogic expertise but rather use of a simple tool to provide customised feedback, remediation and faculty support. We showed that the simple checklist used in this study helped clinician-educators/examiners without pedagogic expertise to diagnose and record CCDEs contributing to poor performance in high stakes examinations. Examiners endorsed the use of the checklist and its potential to improve feedback and training addressing CCDEs made by trainees at the bedside.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2004. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 216-221). Also available on the World Wide Web.

This study examined the effects of sensitivity, specificity and result of diagnostic tests on the uses which physicians make of those results. These were compared with the Bayesian model of probability adjustment, which is generally accepted for medical diagnosis. Ninety six active members of the Oregon Academy of Family Physicians were interviewed by telephone, using a case scenario describing a patient with a newly discovered breast lump. Subjects estimated prior probability of malignancy, based on history and physical findings, and then estimated posterior probability following results of a mammogram. Mammograms varied by result (positive or negative) and by high and low values for sensitivity and specificity. Subjects were asked to indicate their confidence in each probability estimate. About one third of the subjects were also asked for their treatment threshold -- that point at which they would change from a policy of watchful waiting to one of taking some action, which was usually biopsy of the lesion.

No description available.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Sydney, 2009. / Title from title screen (viewed 21st September, 2009) Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy to the Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print form.

Os Serviços de Verificação de Óbitos fornecem informações complementares para a epidemiologia e políticas de saúde pública que servem de instrumentos para medir a situação da saúde de uma comunidade e também para a elaboração e avaliação dos programas de saúde. A comparação entre o diagnóstico clínico de causa mortis e o diagnóstico após a autópsia é uma ferramenta utilizada para a auditoria de serviços médicos, e apesar dos avanços tecnológicos as discrepâncias ainda continuam altas. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a casuística do Serviço de Verificação de Óbitos do Interior (SVOi), localizado no município de Ribeirão Preto, SP, no período de 2008 a 2012 e compará-la com as estatísticas gerais de mortalidade do município, disponibilizadas pelo Ministério da Saúde. Além disso, foi feita a classificação das discrepâncias diagnósticas entre os diagnósticos anotados nos pedidos de necropsias e laudos finais do exame nos óbitos ocorridos utilizando o critério Goldman modificado e a partir dos dados obtidos a fim de realizar uma análise crítica do impacto do SVOi no esclarecimento diagnóstico e sua importância nas estatísticas de mortalidade. Para a aplicação do critério foram utilizados dados secundários do encaminhamento de solicitação da necropsia, dos relatórios finais e dos dados sobre as estatísticas de mortalidade do Município obtidos do Ministério da Saúde, sendo que a análise dos dados foi realizada por meio de análise estatística descritiva. Os resultados evidenciaram que nos períodos do estudo foram realizadas 4464 necropsias no serviço, com predomínio de pacientes do sexo masculino e faixa etária dos 51 aos 90 anos. As doenças do aparelho circulatório foram as mais prevalentes registradas como causas de óbitos, seguidas das doenças respiratórias e neoplasias. Dentre todos os casos necropsiados, foi possível a aplicação do critério Goldman modificado em 3895 (83,28%) deles e as discrepâncias maiores foram atribuídas em 26,39% após o uso de critérios de analise, o que sugere a existência de alto grau de discrepâncias entre a hipótese diagnóstica e a real causa do óbito. Pode-se concluir que o SVOi desempenha um importante papel na auditoria diagnóstica, fato esse evidenciado pelos casos que não apresentaram correlação entre hipótese no encaminhamento e relatório final da necropsia. Além disso, 1228 (31,53%) casos foram encaminhados sem a hipótese, ou seja, sem suspeita da causa básica de morte, destacando a importância do SVOi para a sua definição. Ademais, a causa básica foi solucionada após a realização da necropsia em 99,54% do total dos casos analisados nesse estudo, o que revela a importância desse serviço para a elucidação dos casos e para a contribuição dos dados para as estatísticas de mortalidade. / The Death Verification Service provides complementary information for public epidemiology services and public health policies that are useful as tools for measuring the health status of a community and for the elaboration and evaluation of health programs. Diagnostic comparison between cause of death clinical diagnosis and the autopsy is a tool used for auditing medical services, and despite technological advances, discrepancies are still high. The present study sought to evaluate the casuistry in the Death Verification Service - Interior (DVSi) from 2008 to 2012 and to compare them with the general mortality statistics of the Ribeirão Preto municipality, which were made available by the Ministry of Health. In addition, it aimed to classify the diagnostic discrepancies between the requests for autopsies and final results of examinations in deaths using the Goldman revised criteria and, from the obtained data, to make a critical analysis of the DVSi impact on diagnostic clarification and its importance in mortality statistics. For the application of the criteria, secondary data from the cadaver referral, final reports and mortality data of the Ministry of Health were used, and data analysis was performed through descriptive statistical analysis. The results showed that during the study periods, 4464 autopsies were performed in the service, with a predominance of male patients and age range from 51 to 90 years. Circulatory system diseases were the most prevalent causes of death, followed by respiratory diseases and neoplasms. Among all autopsied cases, it was possible to apply the Goldman revised criteria in 3895 (83.28%) cases and large discrepancies were attributed in 26.39% cases after the use of analysis filter criteria, which suggests the existence of discrepancies between the diagnostic hypothesis and the actual cause of death. It can be concluded that the local DVSi plays an important role in the diagnostic audit, evidenced by the cases that did not present a correlation between the hypothesis in the referral and the final autopsy report. In addition, 1228 (31.53%) cases were referred without hypothesis, that is, without suspicion of the underlying cause of death, highlighting the importance of the DVSi for its definition. Furthermore, the basic cause was solved after performing the autopsy in 99.54% of the total cases analyzed in this study, which reveals the importance of this service for clarification of the cases and its contribution to mortality statistics.

Os Serviços de Verificação de Óbitos fornecem informações complementares para a epidemiologia e políticas de saúde pública que servem de instrumentos para medir a situação da saúde de uma comunidade e também para a elaboração e avaliação dos programas de saúde. A comparação entre o diagnóstico clínico de causa mortis e o diagnóstico após a autópsia é uma ferramenta utilizada para a auditoria de serviços médicos, e apesar dos avanços tecnológicos as discrepâncias ainda continuam altas. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a casuística do Serviço de Verificação de Óbitos do Interior (SVOi), localizado no município de Ribeirão Preto, SP, no período de 2008 a 2012 e compará-la com as estatísticas gerais de mortalidade do município, disponibilizadas pelo Ministério da Saúde. Além disso, foi feita a classificação das discrepâncias diagnósticas entre os diagnósticos anotados nos pedidos de necropsias e laudos finais do exame nos óbitos ocorridos utilizando o critério Goldman modificado e a partir dos dados obtidos a fim de realizar uma análise crítica do impacto do SVOi no esclarecimento diagnóstico e sua importância nas estatísticas de mortalidade. Para a aplicação do critério foram utilizados dados secundários do encaminhamento de solicitação da necropsia, dos relatórios finais e dos dados sobre as estatísticas de mortalidade do Município obtidos do Ministério da Saúde, sendo que a análise dos dados foi realizada por meio de análise estatística descritiva. Os resultados evidenciaram que nos períodos do estudo foram realizadas 4464 necropsias no serviço, com predomínio de pacientes do sexo masculino e faixa etária dos 51 aos 90 anos. As doenças do aparelho circulatório foram as mais prevalentes registradas como causas de óbitos, seguidas das doenças respiratórias e neoplasias. Dentre todos os casos necropsiados, foi possível a aplicação do critério Goldman modificado em 3895 (83,28%) deles e as discrepâncias maiores foram atribuídas em 26,39% após o uso de critérios de analise, o que sugere a existência de alto grau de discrepâncias entre a hipótese diagnóstica e a real causa do óbito. Pode-se concluir que o SVOi desempenha um importante papel na auditoria diagnóstica, fato esse evidenciado pelos casos que não apresentaram correlação entre hipótese no encaminhamento e relatório final da necropsia. Além disso, 1228 (31,53%) casos foram encaminhados sem a hipótese, ou seja, sem suspeita da causa básica de morte, destacando a importância do SVOi para a sua definição. Ademais, a causa básica foi solucionada após a realização da necropsia em 99,54% do total dos casos analisados nesse estudo, o que revela a importância desse serviço para a elucidação dos casos e para a contribuição dos dados para as estatísticas de mortalidade. / The Death Verification Service provides complementary information for public epidemiology services and public health policies that are useful as tools for measuring the health status of a community and for the elaboration and evaluation of health programs. Diagnostic comparison between cause of death clinical diagnosis and the autopsy is a tool used for auditing medical services, and despite technological advances, discrepancies are still high. The present study sought to evaluate the casuistry in the Death Verification Service - Interior (DVSi) from 2008 to 2012 and to compare them with the general mortality statistics of the Ribeirão Preto municipality, which were made available by the Ministry of Health. In addition, it aimed to classify the diagnostic discrepancies between the requests for autopsies and final results of examinations in deaths using the Goldman revised criteria and, from the obtained data, to make a critical analysis of the DVSi impact on diagnostic clarification and its importance in mortality statistics. For the application of the criteria, secondary data from the cadaver referral, final reports and mortality data of the Ministry of Health were used, and data analysis was performed through descriptive statistical analysis. The results showed that during the study periods, 4464 autopsies were performed in the service, with a predominance of male patients and age range from 51 to 90 years. Circulatory system diseases were the most prevalent causes of death, followed by respiratory diseases and neoplasms. Among all autopsied cases, it was possible to apply the Goldman revised criteria in 3895 (83.28%) cases and large discrepancies were attributed in 26.39% cases after the use of analysis filter criteria, which suggests the existence of discrepancies between the diagnostic hypothesis and the actual cause of death. It can be concluded that the local DVSi plays an important role in the diagnostic audit, evidenced by the cases that did not present a correlation between the hypothesis in the referral and the final autopsy report. In addition, 1228 (31.53%) cases were referred without hypothesis, that is, without suspicion of the underlying cause of death, highlighting the importance of the DVSi for its definition. Furthermore, the basic cause was solved after performing the autopsy in 99.54% of the total cases analyzed in this study, which reveals the importance of this service for clarification of the cases and its contribution to mortality statistics.

Clinicians rely heavily on accurate laboratory results to diagnose and treat their patients. Laboratory errors can occur in any area of total testing phases, but more than half of the errors occur in the preanalytical phase. Framed by the total quality management theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore medical laboratory managers' strategies to reduce preanalytical errors. A purposive sample of 2 organizations with laboratories in southern California participated in semistructured face-to-face interviews. Company A had 2 participants and 3 participants participated in the study from Company B. Each participant had at least 5 years of laboratory experience, with a minimum of 2 years of management experience in preanalytical testing, and had completed one project to minimize laboratory errors. Thematic analysis exposed 5 main themes: quality improvement, recognition, reward, and empowerment, education and training, communication, and patient satisfaction. The participants highlighted the need for organizations to concentrate on quality management to achieve patient satisfaction. To achieve quality services, medical laboratory managers noted the importance of employee engagement, education and training, and communication as successful strategies to mitigate preanalytical errors. The recommendation for action is for laboratory leaders to review and apply effective strategies exposed by the data in this study to reduce preanalytical errors in their medical laboratory. Positive implications of this study include reduction of preanalytical errors, increased operational cost, and improved patient experience.

MENEZES, Patrick Lourenço. Erros pré-analíticos em medicina laboratorial: uma revisão sistemática. 2013. 98 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Saúde, Medicina Laboratorial e Tecnologia Forense) - Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 2013. A relevância evidente dos erros pré-analíticos como problema de saúde pública fica patente tanto no dano potencial aos pacientes quanto nos custos ao sistema de saúde, ambos desnecessários e evitáveis. Alguns estudos apontam que a fase pré-analítica é a mais vulnerável a erros, sendo responsável por, aproximadamente, 60 a 90% dos erros laboratoriais em consequência da falta orientação aos pacientes sobre os procedimentos que serão realizados no laboratório clínico. Objetivos: Sistematizar as evidências científicas relacionadas aos erros pré-analíticos dos exames laboratoriais de análises clínicas. Método: Uma revisão sistemática foi realizada, buscando as bases de dados do Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Scopus(que inclui MEDLINE e Embase), ISI Web of Knowledge, SciFinder, Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (Lilacs) (que inclui a Scientific Electronic Library Online SciELO) e o Índice Bibliográfico Espanhol de Ciências de Saúde (IBECS), para artigos publicados entre janeiro de 1990 e junho de 2012 sobre erros de exames laboratoriais que possam ocorrer na fase pré-analítica. Os estudos foram incluídos de acordo com os seguintes exames laboratoriais: hemograma, análise bioquímica do sangue total ou do soro, exames de coagulação sanguínea,uroanálise e exames hematológicos ou bioquímicos em outros materiais e categorizados pelo tipo de erro pré-analítico e pela frequência dos incidentes. Resultados: A busca nas bases de dados bibliográficas resultou no seguinte número de artigos recuperados: 547 na MEDLINE, 229 na Scopus, 110 na ISI, 163 na SciFinder, 228 na Lilacs e 64 na IBECS, perfazendo um total de 1.341 títulos. Ao fim da revisão sistemática, obteve-se um conjunto de 83 artigos para leitura de texto completo, dos quais 14 foram incluídos na revisão. Os estudos abrangeram diferentes tipos de laboratórios, setores técnicos e origem de erros, segundo a fase do processo laboratorial. Discussão: Sete artigos demonstraram erros de pedidos médicos, com uma alta variabilidade nos valores de incidência. Os seis artigos que estudaram erros de coleta de amostra observaram redução deste desfecho. As proporções de eventos adversos relatados e os impactos clínicos variaram, levando a consequências descritas como: erros decorrentes da flebotomia, recoleta de amostras, repetições de exames, atrasos na liberação de resultados de exames e possíveis danos ao paciente. Conclusões: O laboratório deve ter instruções por escrito para cada teste, que descreva o tipo de amostra e procedimento de coleta de amostra. Meios de identificação por código de barras, sistemas robóticos e analíticos reduzem os erros pré-analíticos. A melhoria da fase pré-analítica de testes laboratoriais permanece um desafio para muitos laboratórios clínicos. / The obvious relevance of preanalytical errors as a public health problem is clear in both the potential harm to patients and cost to the health system, both unnecessary and avoidable. Some studies indicate that the pre-analytical phase is the most vulnerable to errors, accounting for approximately 60-90% of laboratory errors as a result of lack guidance to patients about the procedures to be performed in the clinical laboratory. Objectives: To systematize the scientific evidence related to preanalytical errors of clinical analysis laboratory. Method: A systematic review was conducted, searching the databases of the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE) , Scopus (which includes MEDLINE and Embase ), ISI Web of Knowledge , SciFinder , Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences (LILACS) ( which includes the Scientific Electronic Library Online - SciELO) and the Spanish Bibliographic Index of Health Sciences (IBECS) for articles published between January 1990 and June 2012 on laboratory errors that may occur in the preanalytical phase. Studies were included according to the following laboratory tests: complete blood count, biochemical analysis of whole blood or serum, blood coagulation tests, urinalysis and hematological or biochemical analysis of other materials categorized by the type of pre - analytical error and the frequency of incidents. Results: The search in bibliographic databases resulted in the following number of items retrieved: 547 in MEDLINE, Scopus at 229, 110 in the ISI in SciFinder 163, 228 and 64 in the Lilacs IBECS, a total of 1.341 titles. At the end of the systematic review, we obtained a set of 83 articles for reading the full text, of which 14 were included in the review. The studies covered different types of laboratories, technical sectors and source of errors, according to the phase of the laboratory process. Discussion: Seven articles showed errors in the medical requisition, with a high variability in the incidence values. The six articles that studied sample collection errors observed reduction in this outcome. The proportions of reported adverse events and clinical impacts varied, leading to consequences described as: errors resulting from phlebotomy, recollection of samples, repetition of exams, delays in the release of the test results and possible harm to the patient. Conclusions: The laboratory must have written instructions for each test, which describes the type of sample and collection procedure. Identification methods by barcode, robotic and analytical systems, reduce preanalytical errors. The improvement of pre-analytical phase of laboratory tests remains a challenge for many clinical laboratories.