BACKGROUND: Little information exists about current patient perceptions of medical mistakes in ambulatory care within a diverse population. We aimed to learn about the perceptions of medical mistakes, what factors were associated with perceived mistakes, and whether the participants changed physicians because of these perceived mistakes. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey at 7 primary care practices in North Carolina of English- or Spanish-speaking adults, aged 18 years and older, who saw a health care professional during 2008. Main outcome measures were 4 questions about patient perceptions of medical mistakes in the ambulatory care setting, including (1) overall experience with a medical mistake; type of mistake, such as a (2) diagnostic mistake or (3) treatment mistake, and its associated harm; and (4) effect of this mistake on changing physicians. RESULTS: Of 1697 participants, 265 (15.6%) responded that a physician had made a mistake, 227 (13.4%) reported a wrong diagnosis, 212 (12.5%) reported a wrong treatment, and 239 (14.1%) reported having changed physicians because of a mistake. Participants perceived mistakes and harm in both diagnostic care and medical treatment. Patients with chronic back pain, higher educational attainment, and poor physical health were at increased odds of perceiving mistakes, whereas African American patients were less likely to perceive mistakes. CONCLUSIONS: Patients perceived mistakes in their diagnostic and treatment care in the ambulatory setting. These perceptions had a concrete effect on the physician-patient relationship, often leading patients to seek another health care professional.
BACKGROUND: Little information exists about current patient perceptions of medical mistakes in ambulatory care within a diverse population. We aimed to learn about the perceptions of medical mistakes, what factors were associated with perceived mistakes, and whether the participants changed physicians because of these perceived mistakes. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey at 7 primary care practices in North Carolina of English- or Spanish-speaking adults, aged 18 years and older, who saw a health care professional during 2008. Main outcome measures were 4 questions about patient perceptions of medical mistakes in the ambulatory care setting, including (1) overall experience with a medical mistake; type of mistake, such as a (2) diagnostic mistake or (3) treatment mistake, and its associated harm; and (4) effect of this mistake on changing physicians. RESULTS: Of 1697 participants, 265 (15.6%) responded that a physician had made a mistake, 227 (13.4%) reported a wrong diagnosis, 212 (12.5%) reported a wrong treatment, and 239 (14.1%) reported having changed physicians because of a mistake. Participants perceived mistakes and harm in both diagnostic care and medical treatment. Patients with chronic back pain, higher educational attainment, and poor physical health were at increased odds of perceiving mistakes, whereas African American patients were less likely to perceive mistakes. CONCLUSIONS:Patients perceived mistakes in their diagnostic and treatment care in the ambulatory setting. These perceptions had a concrete effect on the physician-patient relationship, often leading patients to seek another health care professional.
Authors: Robert J Blendon; Catherine M DesRoches; Mollyann Brodie; John M Benson; Allison B Rosen; Eric Schneider; Drew E Altman; Kinga Zapert; Melissa J Herrmann; Annie E Steffenson Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2002-12-12 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: E J Thomas; D M Studdert; H R Burstin; E J Orav; T Zeena; E J Williams; K M Howard; P C Weiler; T A Brennan Journal: Med Care Date: 2000-03 Impact factor: 2.983
Authors: Anton J Kuzel; Steven H Woolf; John D Engel; Valerie J Gilchrist; Richard M Frankel; Thomas A LaVeist; Charles Vincent Journal: Qual Health Res Date: 2003-07
Authors: T A Brennan; L L Leape; N M Laird; L Hebert; A R Localio; A G Lawthers; J P Newhouse; P C Weiler; H H Hiatt Journal: Qual Saf Health Care Date: 2004-04
Authors: Kathleen M Mazor; Steven R Simon; Robert A Yood; Brian C Martinson; Margaret J Gunter; George W Reed; Jerry H Gurwitz Journal: Ann Intern Med Date: 2004-03-16 Impact factor: 25.391
Authors: Ignacio Ricci-Cabello; Kate S Marsden; Anthony J Avery; Brian G Bell; Umesh T Kadam; David Reeves; Sarah P Slight; Katherine Perryman; Jane Barnett; Ian Litchfield; Sally Thomas; Stephen M Campbell; Lucy Doos; Aneez Esmail; Jose M Valderas Journal: Br J Gen Pract Date: 2017-06-05 Impact factor: 5.386
Authors: Kelly T Gleason; Susan Peterson; Cheryl R Dennison Himmelfarb; Mariel Villanueva; Taylor Wynn; Paula Bondal; Daniel Berg; Welcome Jerde; David Newman-Toker Journal: Diagnosis (Berl) Date: 2020-10-05