Clinical Skills Diagnostic Errors

Incomplete Pattern

diagnostic error that occurs when a pattern is recognized based on partial information, leading to incorrect assumptions or a premature conclusion.

Premature Closure

Arriving at a conclusion based on the available evidence (which may be insufficient or incomplete) and not considering additional or alternative diagnoses.

Diagnostic Momentum

⮚A preferred diagnosis is made generally on the basis of an incomplete pattern.

⮚Subsequent test results and information are used to confirm the preferred diagnosis (rather than challenge it). Often they are only helpful in confirming the  preferred diagnosis without excluding other possible explanations.

Anecdotal/Personal Knowledge

Anecdotal knowledge is when you transfer knowledge from another situation/case to this one.

Personal knowledge is information that you ascertain FROM THIS CASE

Attribution Error/Diagnostic Overshadowing

•uses the term to describe a situation where a (usually unrelated) problem is attributed to another (usually stigmatising) condition,

•This is sometimes referred to as diagnostic overlay or diagnostic overshadowing.

Availability Error

Looking in one direction as a result of the training and area of knowledge you have expertise in

Commission Bias

The need to do something (make a diagnosis, order a test, start management)

Halo Effect

⮚Having different (usually positive but sometimes negative) expectations of a patient on the basis of some unrelated personal characteristic*, as opposed to (e.g.) an illness.

Transferance/Countertransference

Countertransference is when YOUR feelings towards the patient influences the decision.

Transference refers to the PATIENT’s FEELINGS towards you.