Should electronic differential diagnosis support be used early or late in the diagnostic process? A multicentre experimental study of Isabel (5 October 2021)

Summary

This study in BMJ Quality & Safety examines how much electronic differential diagnostic support (EDS) systems improve diagnostic accuracy, and whether EDS should be used early or late in the diagnostic process. Using a volunteer sample of medical students and doctors at six Canadian medical schools, the authors compared the rate of correct diagnosis when EDS was used early and late in the diagnostic process.

The study found that EDS increased the number of diagnostic hypotheses and the likelihood of correct diagnosis, and that these effects persisted whether EDS was used early or late in the diagnostic process.

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