Diagnosis Behaviors of Physicians and Non-Physicians When Supported by an Electronic Differential Diagnosis Aid

Abstract

The present study examined a diagnostic medical decision aid developed to help inexperienced operators to diagnose and treat a simulated patient. Diagnosis and treatment accuracy using the tool were assessed and compared across both physicians and non-physicians. Initial analysis revealed more accurate diagnostic and treatment choices for non-physicians, but upon further investigation, physicians were found to have recognized signs for another diagnosis and correctly diagnosed and treated based on the limited information in the patient simulation. This fit with other noted behaviors, such as non-physicians opening the diagnostic support tool within the aid more often than physicians, and frequently returning to the tool during the task. In general, non-physicians were supported in choosing the correct diagnosis and treatment by the aid, while physicians disregarded the aid’s recommendations to make decisions based on their own expertise. These results have implications for the development of future decision support aids for non-physicians performing medical procedures.