Missed opportunities for diagnosis: lessons learned from diagnostic errors in primary care
Abstract
Background Because of the difficulties inherent in diagnosis in primary care, it is inevitable that diagnostic errors will occur. However, despite the important consequences associated with diagnostic errors and their estimated high prevalence, teaching and research on diagnostic error is a neglected area.
Aim To ascertain the key learning points from GPs’ experiences of diagnostic errors and approaches to clinical decision making associated with these.
Design and setting Secondary analysis of 36 qualitative interviews with GPs in Oxfordshire, UK.