Understanding clinicians' diagnostic practices: attitudes toward the utility of diagnosis and standardized diagnostic tools

Abstract

Data on clinician diagnostic practices suggest they may not align with evidence-based guidelines. To better understand these practices, a multidisciplinary survey of 1,678 child clinicians examined attitudes toward the utility of diagnosis and standardized diagnostic tools. Psychiatrists were more likely than other disciplines to value diagnosis, whereas psychologists were more likely than others to value standardized diagnostic tools. Private practitioners held less positive views in both domains than other practitioners. Both attitude scales predicted self-reported diagnostic practices, although views of diagnosis utility were more associated with diagnosing in general, whereas views of diagnostic tools were more predictive of standardized tool use.