Education for the Next Frontier in Patient Safety: A Longitudinal Resident Curriculum on Diagnostic Error. (November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ruedinger, Emily; Olson, Maren; Yee, Justin; Borman-Shoap, Emily; Olson, Andrew P. J.
• Is Part Of: American journal of medical quality. Volume 32:Number 6(2017:Nov./Dec.)
• Page Start: 625
• Page End: 631
• Publication Date: 2017-11
• Subjects: diagnostic error -- clinical reasoning -- cognitive error -- medical decision making -- curriculum; Medical care -- Quality control -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Evaluation -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Utilization review -- Periodicals; Medical care -- United States -- Periodicals; 362.1
• DOI: 10.1177/1062860616681626
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1062-8606

Abstract

Diagnostic error is a common, serious problem that has received increased attention recently for its impact on both patients and providers. Presently, most graduate medical education programs do not formally address this topic. The authors developed and evaluated a longitudinal, multimodule resident curriculum about diagnostic error and medical decision making. Key components of the curriculum include demystifying the medical decision-making process, building skills in critical thinking, and providing strategies for diagnostic error mitigation. Special attention was paid to avoiding the second victim effect and to fostering a culture that supports constructive, productive feedback when an error does occur. The curriculum was rated by residents as helpful (96%), and residents were more likely to be aware of strategies to reduce cognitive error (27% pre vs 75% post, P < .0001) following its implementation. This article describes the development, implementation, and effectiveness of this curriculum and explores generalizability of the curriculum to other programs.