Digital tools fail to keep pace with physicians — 5 things to know

JAMA Internal Medicine published a study finding physicians make a correct diagnosis more than twice as often as commonly-used symptom-checker apps, according to Medical Xpress.

Researchers asked 234 internal medicine physicians to analyze 45 clinical cases that varied in severity. Then, physicians had to provide a likely diagnosis as well as two additional possible diagnoses.

Here are five things to know:

1. The analysis found physicians listed the correct diagnosis, first, 72 percent of the time.

2. Comparatively, the digital apps only provided the correct diagnosis, first, 34 percent of the time.

3. A large number (84 percent) of physicians listed the correct diagnosis in the top three possible diagnoses, while digital apps only did this 51 percent of the time.

4. Researchers noted the variation between physician and digital performance was more significant in more severe and less common conditions.

5. The researchers concluded, "While the computer programs were clearly inferior to physicians in terms of diagnostic accuracy, it will be critical to study future generations of computer programs that may be more accurate."

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