Table 2 Questionnaire tool to assess cognitive errors

1

Initiated critical treatments in a timely manner and at appropriate dose or extent

2

Does not allocate attention to all presenting issues

3

Treatments initiated which were not indicated based on established emergency procedures (desperation, “try anything”)

4

Requires prompting to call for help/resources or refuses to call upon prompting

5

Did not consider a thorough differential diagnosis

6

Tried to “make” new data/information fit a diagnosis

7

Once diagnosis is made searches for all causes of diagnosis. For eg. Does not stop searching for other fentanyl patches when one patch found.

8

Recognition of problem is promptly followed by intervention

9

Became focused on one issue at the expense of fully understanding the situation

10

Treatments initiated or actions undertaken which were not necessary

11

Initiated treatments at inappropriate dose without checking/confirming/consulting

12

Tendency to anchor on to salient feature early in the diagnosis process

13

Did not alter the diagnosis when hints were provided by nurse or patient to alternative diagnosis

14

Once diagnosis is made searches for all complications of the diagnosis