Objective: To assess the potential of a diagnostic checklist by comparing physician recall to a computer generated differential diagnostic program, NeurologicDx.Background: Checklists have been demonstrated effective in procedural aspects of medicine, yet implementation has not been fully embraced and diagnostic capability not systematically studied.Methods: A group of 13 practicing neurologists were handed a sheet of paper which contained the single instruction "List as many neurologic diseases associated with each term below". There were three terms, one at the top of each of three columns with 10 blank lines drawn below. Participants were asked to indicate their time in practice as either PGY4 for third year residents or decades in practice for attending physicians. The terms, "jaundice", "night sweats", and "oval pupil" were used without a time limit for completion. Each of the answers provided by participants would be validated by Google search.Results: Nine surveys were completed and returned within 3 to 5 minutes after distribution. Of the participants, as self-described, 2 were PGY4, 2 first decade, 3 second, 2 third and 2 fourth. The data preparation used the computer generated list plus all of the unique values collectively from the group. For jaundice there were 36 unique terms, NeurologicDx provided 23 (64%) and the individual simple recall mean was 3.5 (10%), NeurologicDx scored 59% and 72% better than individual simple recall on the remaining terms.Conclusion: Computer generated checklists can be used to expand the information available at point of care to remind physicians of significant items to add to their differential diagnosis. The overall suggestion is that computer generated checklists will significantly improve diagnostic capability, shorten time for appropriate care and reduce error. Study Supported by: N/A no support
Disclosure: Dr. Finelli has nothing to disclose. Dr. McCabe has nothing to disclose.
Original Article: http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/short/82/10_Supplement/P1.319?rss=1
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