Associations between experience, diagnostic certainty,
diagnostic agreement and investigative approach
These data are reported for each individual rater in Table 2. Mean
diagnostic certainty increased numerically with years’ experience but
the number of raters was too small for statistical analysis. For each of
the four raters, statistically significant associations were identified
between increasing diagnostic certainty and greater diagnostic
agreement. A one-unit increase in diagnostic certainty resulted in the
odds of agreement with 0 colleagues rather than 1,2 or 3 reducing by
44%, 29%, 43% and 24%, respectively for the four raters.
For each of the four raters, significant associations were identified
between increasing diagnostic certainty and decreased likelihood of
arranging investigations. A one-unit increase in diagnostic certainty
resulted in a reduction in the odds that a consultant would arrange any
investigations of 22%, 29%, 44% and 42%, respectively for the four
raters.