For their study, researchers distributed surveys to 200 family physicians, 200 general internists and 200 general pediatricians practicing in Iowa. Of 600 possible responses, 202 were returned to researchers. An assessment of the surveys showed benign viral infections, musculoskeletal pain and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/asthma were the most common incorrect diagnoses. Respondents also outlined key lessons learned:
1. Consider diagnosis X in patients presenting with symptom Y.
2. Look beyond the initial, most obvious diagnosis.
3. Be alert to atypical presentations of disease.
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