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Cifra CL, Custer JW, Smith CM, Smith KA, Bagdure DN, Bloxham J, Goldhar E, Gorga SM, Hoppe EM, Miller CD, Pizzo M, Ramesh S, Riffe J, Robb K, Simone SL, Stoll HD, Tumulty JA, Wall SE, Wolfe KK, Wendt L, Eyck PT, Landrigan CP, Dawson JD, Reisinger HS, Singh H, Herwaldt LA. Prevalence and Characteristics of Diagnostic Error in Pediatric Critical Care: A Multicenter Study. Crit Care Med 2023; 51:1492-1501. [PMID: 37246919 PMCID: PMC10615661 DOI: 10.1097/ccm.0000000000005942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Effective interventions to prevent diagnostic error among critically ill children should be informed by diagnostic error prevalence and etiologies. We aimed to determine the prevalence and characteristics of diagnostic errors and identify factors associated with error in patients admitted to the PICU. DESIGN Multicenter retrospective cohort study using structured medical record review by trained clinicians using the Revised Safer Dx instrument to identify diagnostic error (defined as missed opportunities in diagnosis). Cases with potential errors were further reviewed by four pediatric intensivists who made final consensus determinations of diagnostic error occurrence. Demographic, clinical, clinician, and encounter data were also collected. SETTING Four academic tertiary-referral PICUs. PATIENTS Eight hundred eighty-two randomly selected patients 0-18 years old who were nonelectively admitted to participating PICUs. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Of 882 patient admissions, 13 (1.5%) had a diagnostic error up to 7 days after PICU admission. Infections (46%) and respiratory conditions (23%) were the most common missed diagnoses. One diagnostic error caused harm with a prolonged hospital stay. Common missed diagnostic opportunities included failure to consider the diagnosis despite a suggestive history (69%) and failure to broaden diagnostic testing (69%). Unadjusted analysis identified more diagnostic errors in patients with atypical presentations (23.1% vs 3.6%, p = 0.011), neurologic chief complaints (46.2% vs 18.8%, p = 0.024), admitting intensivists greater than or equal to 45 years old (92.3% vs 65.1%, p = 0.042), admitting intensivists with more service weeks/year (mean 12.8 vs 10.9 wk, p = 0.031), and diagnostic uncertainty on admission (77% vs 25.1%, p < 0.001). Generalized linear mixed models determined that atypical presentation (odds ratio [OR] 4.58; 95% CI, 0.94-17.1) and diagnostic uncertainty on admission (OR 9.67; 95% CI, 2.86-44.0) were significantly associated with diagnostic error. CONCLUSIONS Among critically ill children, 1.5% had a diagnostic error up to 7 days after PICU admission. Diagnostic errors were associated with atypical presentations and diagnostic uncertainty on admission, suggesting possible targets for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina L. Cifra
- Division of Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
- Division of Medical Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jason W. Custer
- Division of Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Craig M. Smith
- Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Kristen A. Smith
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Dayanand N. Bagdure
- Department of Pediatrics, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport School of Medicine, Shreveport, Louisiana
| | - Jodi Bloxham
- University of Iowa College of Nursing, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Emily Goldhar
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Stephen M. Gorga
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Elizabeth M. Hoppe
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Christina D. Miller
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Critical Care, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Max Pizzo
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Sonali Ramesh
- Department of Pediatrics, BronxCare Health System, New York, New York
| | - Joseph Riffe
- Department of Pediatrics, Family First Health, York, Pennsylvania
| | - Katharine Robb
- Division of Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Shari L. Simone
- University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | - Jamie Ann Tumulty
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, University of Maryland Children’s Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Stephanie E. Wall
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Katie K. Wolfe
- Division of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Linder Wendt
- University of Iowa Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Patrick Ten Eyck
- University of Iowa Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, Iowa City, Iowa
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Christopher P. Landrigan
- Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jeffrey D. Dawson
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Heather Schacht Reisinger
- University of Iowa Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, Iowa City, Iowa
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Hardeep Singh
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Loreen A. Herwaldt
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa
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Joseph MM, Mahajan P, Snow SK, Ku BC, Saidinejad M. Optimizing Pediatric Patient Safety in the Emergency Care Setting. Pediatrics 2022; 150:189658. [PMID: 36189487 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2022-059674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Patient safety is the foundation of high-quality health care and remains a critical priority for all clinicians caring for children. There are numerous aspects of pediatric care that increase the risk of patient harm, including but not limited to risk from medication errors attributable to weight-dependent dosing and need for appropriate equipment and training. Of note, the majority of children who are ill and injured are brought to community hospital emergency departments. It is, therefore, imperative that all emergency departments practice patient safety principles, support a culture of safety, and adopt best practices to improve safety for all children seeking emergency care. This technical report outlined the challenges and resources necessary to minimize pediatric medical errors and to provide safe medical care for children of all ages in emergency care settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline M Joseph
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville, University of Florida Health Sciences Center-Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida
| | - Prashant Mahajan
- Departments of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Sally K Snow
- Independent Consultant in Pediatric Emergency and Trauma Nursing; Graham, Texas
| | - Brandon C Ku
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Mohsen Saidinejad
- The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-University of California Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
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El-Kareh R, Sittig DF. Enhancing Diagnosis Through Technology: Decision Support, Artificial Intelligence, and Beyond. Crit Care Clin 2022; 38:129-139. [PMID: 34794627 PMCID: PMC8608279 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccc.2021.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Patient care in intensive care environments is complex, time-sensitive, and data-rich, factors that make these settings particularly well-suited to clinical decision support (CDS). A wide range of CDS interventions have been used in intensive care unit environments. The field needs well-designed studies to identify the most effective CDS approaches. Evolving artificial intelligence and machine learning models may reduce information-overload and enable teams to take better advantage of the large volume of patient data available to them. It is vital to effectively integrate new CDS into clinical workflows and to align closely with the cognitive processes of frontline clinicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert El-Kareh
- University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, #0881 La Jolla, CA 92093-0881, USA.
| | - Dean F Sittig
- School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, UT-Memorial Hermann Center for Healthcare Quality & Safety, Houston, TX 77030, USA. https://twitter.com/DeanSittig
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Cifra CL, Custer JW, Fackler JC. A Research Agenda for Diagnostic Excellence in Critical Care Medicine. Crit Care Clin 2022; 38:141-157. [PMID: 34794628 PMCID: PMC8963385 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccc.2021.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Diagnosing critically ill patients in the intensive care unit is difficult. As a result, diagnostic errors in the intensive care unit are common and have been shown to cause harm. Research to improve diagnosis in critical care medicine has accelerated in past years. However, much work remains to fully elucidate the diagnostic process in critical care. To achieve diagnostic excellence, interdisciplinary research is needed, adopting a balanced strategy of continued biomedical discovery while addressing the complex care delivery systems underpinning the diagnosis of critical illness.
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Sawicki JG, Nystrom D, Purtell R, Good B, Chaulk D. Diagnostic error in the pediatric hospital: a narrative review. Hosp Pract (1995) 2021; 49:437-444. [PMID: 34743667 DOI: 10.1080/21548331.2021.2004040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Diagnostic error is a prevalent type of medical error that is associated with considerable patient harm and increased medical costs. The majority of literature guiding the current understanding of diagnostic error in the hospital setting is from adult studies. However, there is research to suggest this type of error is also prevalent in the pediatric specialty. OBJECTIVES The primary objective of this study was to define the current understanding of diagnostic error in the pediatric hospital through a structured literature review. METHODS We searched PubMed and identified studies focusing on three aspects of diagnostic error in pediatric hospitals: the incidence or prevalence, contributing factors, and related interventions. We used a tiered review, and a standardized electronic form to extract data from included articles. RESULTS Fifty-nine abstracts were screened and 23 full-text studies were included in the final review. Seventeen of the 23 studies focused on the incidence or prevalence, with only 3 studies investigating the utility of interventions. Most studies took place in an intensive care unit or emergency department with very few studies including only patients on the general wards. Overall, the prevalence of diagnostic error in pediatric hospitals varied greatly and depended on the measurement technique and specific hospital setting. Both healthcare system factors and individual cognitive factors were found to contribute to diagnostic error, with there being limited evidence to guide how best to mitigate the influence of these factors on the diagnostic process. CONCLUSION The general knowledge of diagnostic error in pediatric hospital settings is limited. Future work should incorporate structured frameworks to measure diagnostic errors and examine clinicians' diagnostic processes in real-time to help guide effective hospital-wide interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan G Sawicki
- Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Daniel Nystrom
- Clinical Risk Management, Intermountain Healthcare, Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Rebecca Purtell
- Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Brian Good
- Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - David Chaulk
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES To summarize the literature on prevalence, impact, and contributing factors related to diagnostic error in the PICU. DATA SOURCES Search of PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library up to December 2019. STUDY SELECTION Studies on diagnostic error and the diagnostic process in pediatric critical care were included. Non-English studies with no translation, case reports/series, studies providing no information on diagnostic error, studies focused on non-PICU populations, and studies focused on a single condition/disease or a single diagnostic test/tool were excluded. DATA EXTRACTION Data on research design, objectives, study sample, and results pertaining to the prevalence, impact, and factors associated with diagnostic error were abstracted from each study. DATA SYNTHESIS Using independent tiered review, 396 abstracts were screened, and 17 studies (14 full-text, 3 abstracts) were ultimately included. Fifteen of 17 studies (88%) had an observational research design. Autopsy studies (autopsy rates were 20-47%) showed a 10-23% rate of missed major diagnoses; 5-16% of autopsy-discovered diagnostic errors had a potential adverse impact on survival and would have changed management. Retrospective record reviews reported varying rates of diagnostic error from 8% in a general PICU population to 12% among unexpected critical admissions and 21-25% of patients discussed at PICU morbidity and mortality conferences. Cardiovascular, infectious, congenital, and neurologic conditions were most commonly misdiagnosed. Systems factors (40-67%), cognitive factors (20-3%), and both systems and cognitive factors (40%) were associated with diagnostic error. Limited information was available on the impact of misdiagnosis. CONCLUSIONS Knowledge of diagnostic errors in the PICU is limited. Future work to understand diagnostic errors should involve a balanced focus between studying the diagnosis of individual diseases and uncovering common system- and process-related determinants of diagnostic error.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina L. Cifra
- Division of Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Jason W. Custer
- Division of Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Hardeep Singh
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - James C. Fackler
- Division of Pediatric Anesthesia and Critical Care, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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Barwise A, Leppin A, Dong Y, Huang C, Pinevich Y, Herasevich S, Soleimani J, Gajic O, Pickering B, Kumbamu A. What Contributes to Diagnostic Error or Delay? A Qualitative Exploration Across Diverse Acute Care Settings in the United States. J Patient Saf 2021; 17:239-248. [PMID: 33852544 PMCID: PMC8195035 DOI: 10.1097/pts.0000000000000817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Diagnostic error and delay is a prevalent and impactful problem. This study was part of a mixed-methods approach to understand the organizational, clinician, and patient factors contributing to diagnostic error and delay among acutely ill patients within a health system, as well as recommendations for the development of tailored, targeted, feasible, and effective interventions. METHODS We did a multisite qualitative study using focus group methodology to explore the perspectives of key clinician stakeholders. We used a conceptual framework that characterized diagnostic error and delay as occurring within 1 of 3 stages of the patient's diagnostic journey-critical information gathering, synthesis of key information, and decision making and communication. We developed our moderator guide based on the sociotechnical frameworks previously described by Holden and Singh for understanding noncognitive factors that lead to diagnostic error and delay. Deidentified focus group transcripts were coded in triplicate and to consensus over a series of meetings. A final coded data set was then uploaded into NVivo software. The data were then analyzed to generate overarching themes and categories. RESULTS We recruited a total of 64 participants across 4 sites from emergency departments, hospital floor, and intensive care unit settings into 11 focus groups. Clinicians perceive that diverse organizational, communication and coordination, individual clinician, and patient factors interact to impede the process of making timely and accurate diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the complex sociotechnical system within which individual clinicians operate and the contributions of systems, processes, and institutional factors to diagnostic error and delay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelia Barwise
- From the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
| | | | - Yue Dong
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
| | - Chanyan Huang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
| | | | | | | | - Ognjen Gajic
- From the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES Diagnostic errors can harm critically ill children. However, we know little about their prevalence in PICUs and factors associated with error. The objective of this pilot study was to determine feasibility of record review to identify patient, provider, and work system factors associated with diagnostic errors during the first 12 hours after PICU admission. DESIGN Pilot retrospective cohort study with structured record review using a structured tool (Safer Dx instrument) to identify diagnostic error. SETTING Academic tertiary referral PICU. PATIENTS Patients 0-17 years old admitted nonelectively to the PICU. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Four of 50 patients (8%) had diagnostic errors in the first 12 hours after admission. The Safer Dx instrument helped identify delayed diagnoses of chronic ear infection, increased intracranial pressure (two cases), and Bartonella encephalitis. We calculated that 610 PICU admissions are needed to achieve 80% power (α = 0.05) to detect significant associations with error. CONCLUSIONS Our pilot study found four patients with diagnostic error out of 50 children admitted nonelectively to a PICU. Retrospective record review using a structured tool to identify diagnostic errors is feasible in this population. Pilot data are being used to inform a larger and more definitive multicenter study.
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Sendur SN, Topeli A. The effect of the first-year residents orientation period on intensive care and hospital mortality, in a medical intensive care unit, within a developing country. J Crit Care 2019; 51:105-110. [PMID: 30798097 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2019.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Revised: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine whether the adaptation of junior residents, during their first week rotation period within the ICU, has any effect on ICU and hospital mortality rates, in a developing country. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients who were admitted to the ICU were included, with 1207 out of 1547 of the admitted patients being eligible. The effect of age, gender, co-morbidities, the cause of the ICU admission, the presence of hospital-acquired infections, residents rotation week, admission time (weekday vs. weekend), number of patients admitted on the same day (one vs. two or more) and APACHE II score upon the ICU and hospital mortality rates were evaluated. RESULTS The first rotation week of junior residents is an independent risk factor determining hospital mortality (OR (95% CI) = 2.42 (1.23-4.76); p = .010). The effect of the first rotation week on intensive care mortality was not statistically significant (1.92 (0.97-3.84); p = .063). In addition, the presence of malignancy, sepsis-septic shock, hospital-acquired infection and high APACHE II score were found to be other independent determinants of increased hospital mortality. CONCLUSION The junior residents first rotation week is an independent risk factor on hospital mortality, in a tertiary medical intensive care unit, within a developing country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suleyman Nahit Sendur
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Arzu Topeli
- Division of Intensive Care Medicine, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
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