According to a recent study, patients displaying ‘difficult’ behaviour increase GPs’ risk of getting a diagnosis wrong. Kirsty Plowman reports
A study on whether patients’ disruptive behaviours influence the accuracy of a doctor’s diagnosis found that doctors were 42% more likely to misdiagnose a ‘difficult’ patient than a ‘neutral’ one in a complex case.
The study, by researchers from the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, Netherlands and published in BMJ Quality & Safety1, found that a GP’s decision-making becomes impaired because they dedicate so much mental resources to their patients’ emotional behaviour.
It concluded: “Disruptive behaviours displayed by patients seem to induce doctors to make diagnostic errors.
“Efforts should be made to increase doctors’ awareness of the potential negative influence of difficult patients’ behaviours on diagnostic decisions and their ability to counteract such influence.”
Dr Pallavi Bradshaw, Senior Medicolegal Adviser at Medical Protec tion, said: “In this ‘information era’, patients are better informed about their health and what modern medicine can achieve. Engaged patients are valuable for GPs; however these high expectations can cause conflict between what the patient wants and what the GP can deliver, leading to difficult discussions.
“Dealing with challenging patients, particularly when they are abusive, understandably impacts on GPs’ stress levels, morale and fear of litigation – which in turn can negatively affect patient care.”
A 2015 Medical Protection survey2 suggested that over half of GPs face a challenging consultation with a patient on a weekly basis.
The GPs surveyed blamed unrealistic expectations (72% of respondents) – with 93% believing that patient expectations are higher than five years ago – followed by alcohol/drug misuse by patients (41%).
Nearly three quarters of respondents had experienced verbal abuse, while 74% had faced aggressive demands for treatment or drugs and 51% had witnessed violent or aggressive behaviour.
These challenging encounters had a negative impact on practice life: 94% reported stress and anxiety, 77% believed their workload increased from dealing with the repercussions, and 66% said it caused delays in appointments.
Dr Pallavi Bradshaw added: “We also want to remind members that Medical Protection is here to offer advice, support and guidance throughout a member’s career.”
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References
- Mamede S et al, Why patients’ disruptive behaviours impair diagnostic reasoning: a randomised experiment, BMJ Qual Saf (2016)
- Medical Protection conducted a survey of 254 UK GP members in 2015 on the issue of ‘challenging interactions with patients’
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