Table 1.

Patient characteristics and results of x-ray interpretation

Fracture diagnoses (2002–2004)	False Positive	False negative	Sum Diagnostic Errors	Control group	P
N	21	40	61	100
Male: Female	8:13	19:21	27:34	50:50	NS
Age Yrs (s. d.)	31 (20.6)	45.1 (27.7)	40.2 (26.2)	44.7 (27.3)	NS
First ED visit between 8 pm – 2 am*	13	13	26	20	<0.005
X-ray on first ED visit	21	33	54	99	<0.005
Doubt of x-ray interpretation noted by intern	13	13	26	9	<0.001
Seen only by an intern	14	23	37	86	NS
Intern + a resident	4	14	18	10	<0.05
Intern + a consultant (surgery or radiology)	3	3	6	1	NS

*Digits not available for all patients