Contextual Errors
Authors: Michael A. LaCombe
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2010)

Editorials20 July 2010Contextual ErrorsMichael A. LaCombe, MDMichael A. LaCombe, MDFrom MaineGeneral Medical Center, Augusta, Maine 04330Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-153-2-201007200-00009 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Some time ago at a national meeting, I was hung out to dry. On the spur of the moment, and appealing to my vanity, a course director (who shall be nameless until I get even with him) asked if I might show my legendary communication skills before a group by using a standardized patient. I would go first, show them how it was done, that sort of thing. Trapped by my ego, I was led to the slaughter—a hall of some 500 attendees watching on closed-circuit television—and handed an index card with my instructions. I was to meet the wife ...References1. Burri A, Mccaughan K, Barrows H. The feasibility of using the simulated patient as a means to evaluate clinical competence of practicing physicians in a community. Proceedings of the 15th Annual Conference on Research in Medical Education. Washington, DC: Association of American Medical Colleges; 1976:295-9. Google Scholar2. Tamblyn RM. Use of standardized patients in the assessment of medical practice [Editorial]. CMAJ. 1998;158:205-7. [PMID: 9469142] MedlineGoogle Scholar3. Stillman PL, Swanson DB, Smee S, Stillman AE, Ebert TH, Emmel VS, et al. Assessing clinical skills of residents with standardized patients. Ann Intern Med. 1986;105:762-71. [PMID: 3767153] LinkGoogle Scholar4. Stillman P, Swanson D, Regan MB, Philbin MM, Nelson V, Ebert T, et al. Assessment of clinical skills of residents utilizing standardized patients. A follow-up study and recommendations for application. Ann Intern Med. 1991;114:393-401. [PMID: 1992883] LinkGoogle Scholar5. Franz CE, Epstein R, Miller KN, Brown A, Song J, Feldman M, et al. Caught in the act? Prevalence, predictors, and consequences of physician detection of unannounced standardized patients. Health Serv Res. 2006;41:2290-302. [PMID: 17116121] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. Cornuz J, Humair JP, Seematter L, Stoianov R, van Melle G, Stalder H, et al. Efficacy of resident training in smoking cessation: a randomized, controlled trial of a program based on application of behavioral theory and practice with standardized patients. Ann Intern Med. 2002;136:429-37. [PMID: 11900495] LinkGoogle Scholar7. Papadakis MA. The Step 2 clinical-skills examination. N Engl J Med. 2004;350:1703-5. [PMID: 15102993] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. Carney PA, Dietrich AJ, Freeman DH, Mott LA. The periodic health examination provided to asymptomatic older women: an assessment using standardized patients. Ann Intern Med. 1993;119:129-35. [PMID: 8512162] LinkGoogle Scholar9. Weiner SJ, Schwartz A, Weaver F, Goldberg J, Yudkowsky R, Sharma G, et al. Contextual errors and failures in individualizing patient care. A multicenter study. Ann Intern Med. 2010;153:69-75. LinkGoogle Scholar10. Gazmararian JA, Baker DW, Williams MV, Parker RM, Scott TL, Green DC, et al. Health literacy among Medicare enrollees in a managed care organization. JAMA. 1999;281:545-51. [PMID: 10022111] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar11. Kirsch IS, Jungeblut A, Jenkins L, Kolstad A. Adult Literacy in America: A First Look at the Findings of the National Adult Literacy Survey. 3rd ed. NCES 1993-275. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Research and Improvement; 1993. Accessed at nces.ed.gov/pubs93/93275.pdf on 8 June 2010. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From MaineGeneral Medical Center, Augusta, Maine 04330Disclosures: None disclosed. Form can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M10-1268.Corresponding Author: Michael A. LaCombe, MD, MaineGeneral Medical Center, 6 East Chestnut Street, Augusta, ME 04330; e-mail, [email protected]org. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoContextual Errors and Failures in Individualizing Patient Care Saul J. Weiner , Alan Schwartz , Frances Weaver , Julie Goldberg , Rachel Yudkowsky , Gunjan Sharma , Amy Binns-Calvey , Ben Preyss , Marilyn M. Schapira , Stephen D. Persell , Elizabeth Jacobs , and Richard I. Abrams Metrics 20 July 2010Volume 153, Issue 2Page: 126-127KeywordsBehaviorDrugsHuman sexual behaviorLiteracyNursing educationPatientsReflexesThyroidWeight loss ePublished: 20 July 2010 Issue Published: 20 July 2010 CopyrightCopyright © 2010 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...