Table 4.
Adjusted ORs and 95% CIs for the Associations Between Pathologist Characteristics and Influence Toward a More Severe MSL Diagnosis Due to Concerns About Medical Malpracticea
| Pathologist Characteristic | OR (95% CI) | P Value |
|---|---|---|
| Residency training | ||
| Anatomic/clinical pathology | Reference | |
| Dermatology | 1.65 (0.61-4.43) | .32 |
| Years interpreting MSL | ||
| <20 | Reference | |
| ≥20 | 0.29 (0.12-0.69) | .005 |
| I am concerned about patient safety and potential harm to patients that may result from my assessment of melanocytic skin lesions | ||
| Disagree | Reference | |
| Agree | 1.74 (0.76-3.98) | .19 |
| In general, too many melanocytic skin lesions are being biopsied | ||
| Disagree | Reference | |
| Agree | 1.58 (0.81-3.08) | .18 |
| Composite assurance variableb | ||
| None | Reference | |
| Strongly agrees with practicing at least one of four assurance behaviors | 2.72 (1.41-5.26) | .003 |
CI, confidence interval; MSL, melanocytic skin lesion; OR, odds ratio.
aResults based on a multivariable logistic regression model containing the terms shown in the model. Variables chosen for multivariable modeling were those associated with influence toward a more severe diagnosis at P ≤ .10 in simple logistic models. The OR for each variable is adjusted for all other terms in the table.
bAssurance behaviors include requesting additional slides from the block, recommending additional surgical sampling, requesting second opinions, and ordering additional tests such as immunohistochemistty and other molecular tests.