Features of diagnostic decision making in primary care
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Features of diagnostic decision making in primary care.
IRAS ID
178601
Contact name
Rebecca Lawton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Bradford Institute for Health Research
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Ref no: 15-0129; date approved: 28-April-2015, School of Psychology Research Ethics Committee
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 31 days
Research summary
BACKGROUND: Research suggests that diagnostic delay and misdiagnosis make a substantial contribution to harmful or potentially harmful events in primary care. In order to understand why errors may occur, it is important to gain a better understanding of the features involved in diagnostic decision making and how GPs cope with the challenging diagnostic decisions that they make.
CURRENT STUDY: Research suggests that decisions may be driven by both cognitive (rational thinking) and emotional features. However, the processes involved in rational thinking and emotion in diagnostic decision making in primary care and how GPs cope after making challenging diagnostic decisions, have not been explored in detail.
HOW: In depth telephone interviews exploring diagnostic decision making will be carried out with the GPs working in a primary care setting.
WHERE: Interviews will be carried out with GPs working in primary care in practices across one NHS CCG.
RESULTS: To explore the processes involved during and after diagnostic decision making, thematic analysis of interview data will identify the key aspects and categories of cognitive and emotional features.
REC name
N/A
REC reference
N/A