Validity of the primary diagnosis at discharge from the hospital
González, C.A.; Agudo Trigueros, A.; Costa Roma, J.; Mir Devant, L.; Romagosa Massana, J.; Sicras Mainar, A.
Medicina Clinica 89(7): 269-271
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-7753 PMID: 3683003 Document Number: 292989
A validity study of the main diagnosis at discharge was undertakin in 5 district hospitals with 77-298 beds for acute patients and with a computerized Discharge and Admission Register. The diagnoses in the hospitalization data sheet were compared to the information from the clinical record. In a sample of 721 discharges, corresponding to 3.5% of the overall number of discharges during 1985, 12.5% of errors in the diagnosis were detected. There were differences in validity of the diagnosis between the hospitals and the hospitalization services. Most errors were attributable to selection and precision, and were localized between the first and third digits of the classification. The results emphasize the need to be careful in the use and interpretation of the hospital morbidity statistics.