A unified conceptual model for diagnostic errors: underdiagnosis, overdiagnosis, and misdiagnosis

Abstract

Progress in diagnostic error research has been hampered by a lack of unified terminology and definitions. This article proposes a novel framework for considering diagnostic errors, offering a unified conceptual model for underdiagnosis, overdiagnosis, and misdiagnosis. The model clarifies the critical separation between 'diagnostic process failures' (incorrect workups) and 'diagnosis label failures' (incorrect diagnoses). By dividing processes into those that are substandard, suboptimal, or optimal, important distinctions are drawn between 'preventable', 'reducible,' and 'unavoidable' diagnostic errors. The new model emphasizes the importance of mitigating diagnosis-related harms, regardless of whether the solutions require traditional safety strategies (preventable errors), more effective evidence dissemination (reducible errors; harms from overtesting and overdiagnosis), or new scientific discovery (currently unavoidable errors). Doing so maximizes our ability to prioritize solving various diagnosis-related problems from a societal value perspective. This model should serve as a foundation for developing consensus terminology and operationalized definitions for relevant diagnostic-error categories.

Keywords: diagnosis; diagnostic errors; misdiagnosis; overdiagnosis; patient safety; underdiagnosis.

Figure 1

Core elements of the model define preventable diagnostic errors, and resemble prior conceptual models [7].

Figure 2

Combining new elements with core elements of the model define reducible and unavoidable diagnostic errors.