Feedback loop failure modes in medical diagnosis: How biases can emerge and be reinforced (13 May 2024)

Summary

Large electronic health record or population-based datasets form the basis for many diagnostic error studies. This article raises the issue of data-driven feedback loop failures which occur when disease incidence, presentation, and risk factors are misunderstood in research and, therefore, future medical practice. For example, men presenting with "classic" symptoms of heart attack are more frequently targeted for evaluation than women with "atypical" symptoms, thereby resulting in underdiagnoses of heart attack in women and underrepresentation in the evidence base.

This year’s World Patient Safety Day on 17 September 2024 (WPSD 2024) is focused on the theme “Improving diagnosis for patient safety”. Find out more.