The COVID trap: pediatric diagnostic errors in a pandemic world

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Medicine
• Medical Diagnostics
• Public Health Crises

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted standard healthcare delivery, introducing uncertainty and fear.
• Altered clinical processes and a novel social context heightened the risk of diagnostic errors.

Observation:

• Three pediatric cases during the early pandemic illustrate diagnostic challenges.
• These cases highlight the impact of cognitive biases like availability bias, diagnostic momentum, and premature closure.
• The interplay between systemic and cognitive factors exacerbated diagnostic delays and missed diagnoses.

Findings:

• The pandemic created a fertile ground for diagnostic errors in pediatric care.
• Cognitive biases, amplified by pandemic-related stressors, played a crucial role.
• Systemic factors within the altered healthcare environment also contributed significantly.

Implications:

• Understanding these pandemic-specific diagnostic challenges is crucial for pediatric patient safety.
• Mitigating cognitive and systemic biases is essential to prevent future diagnostic errors in public health crises.
• This analysis offers insights into adapting diagnostic strategies during and after pandemics.