Factors Associated With Neuroradiologic Diagnostic Errors at a Large Tertiary-Care Academic Medical Center: A Case-Control Study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND. Numerous studies have explored factors associated with diagnostic errors in neuroradiology; however, large-scale multivariable analyses are lacking. OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate associations of interpretation time, shift volume, care setting, day of week, and trainee participation with diagnostic errors by neuroradiologists at a large academic medical center. METHODS. This retrospective case-control study using a large tertiary-care academic medical center's neuroradiology quality assurance database evaluated CT and MRI examinations for which neuroradiologists had assigned RADPEER scores. The database was searched from January 2014 through March 2020 for examinations without (RADPEER score of 1) or with (RADPEER scores of 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, or 4) diagnostic error. For each examination with error, two examinations without error were randomly selected (unless only one examination could be identified) and matched by interpreting radiologist and examination type to form case and control groups. Marginal mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to assess associations of diagnostic error with interpretation time (number of minutes since the immediately preceding report's completion), shift volume (number of examinations interpreted during the shift), emergency/inpatient setting, weekend interpretation, and trainee participation in interpretation. RESULTS. The case group included 564 examinations in 564 patients (mean age, 50.0 ± 25.0 [SD] years; 309 men, 255 women); the control group included 1019 examinations in 1019 patients (mean age, 52.5 ± 23.2 years; 540 men, 479 women). In the case versus control group, mean interpretation time was 16.3 ± 17.2 [SD] minutes versus 14.8 ± 16.7 minutes; mean shift volume was 50.0 ± 22.1 [SD] examinations versus 45.4 ± 22.9 examinations. In univariable models, diagnostic error was associated with shift volume (OR = 1.22, p < .001) and weekend interpretation (OR = 1.60, p < .001) but not interpretation time, emergency/inpatient setting, or trainee participation (p > .05). However, in multivariable models, diagnostic error was independently associated with interpretation time (OR = 1.18, p = .003), shift volume (OR = 1.27, p < .001), and weekend interpretation (OR = 1.69, p = .02). In subanalysis, diagnostic error showed independent associations on weekdays with interpretation time (OR = 1.18, p = .003) and shift volume (OR = 1.27, p < .001); such associations were not observed on weekends (interpretation time: p = .62; shift volume: p = .58). CONCLUSION. Diagnostic errors in neuroradiology were associated with longer interpretation times, higher shift volumes, and weekend interpretation. CLINICAL IMPACT. These findings should be considered when designing work-flow-related interventions seeking to reduce neuroradiology interpretation errors.