Clinician factors associated with delayed diagnosis of appendicitis

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the association of clinician demographics and practice patterns with delayed diagnosis of appendicitis.

Methods: We included children with appendicitis at 13 regional emergency departments (EDs). We screened patients with a previous ED visit within 7 days for delayed diagnosis by chart review. We evaluated the association of clinician characteristics using logistic regression with random intercepts for site and clinician and delay as the outcome.

Results: Among 7,452 children with appendicitis, 105 (1.4%) had delayed diagnosis. Clinicians in the lowest quartile of obtaining blood in their general practice were more likely to have delayed diagnosis (odds ratio 4.9 compared to highest quartile, 95% confidence interval 1.8, 13.8). Clinicians' imaging rates, specialty, sex, and experience were not associated with delayed diagnosis.

Conclusions: Clinicians who used more blood tests in their general practice had a lower risk of delayed diagnosis of appendicitis, possible evidence that lower risk tolerance has benefits.

Keywords: appendicitis; emergency department; emergency medicine; risk tolerance.