JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

The management of diagnostic uncertainty is part of every primary care physician’s role. Electronic safety netting (e-safety-netting) tools help healthcare professionals to manage diagnostic uncertainty. Using software in addition to verbal and/or paper based safety-netting methods could make diagnostic delays and errors less likely. There are an increasing number of software products identifying as e-safety-netting tools, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. E-safety-netting tools can have a variety of functions including clinician alerts, administrative tasking, decision support and triggering reminder text messages to patients. However, these tools have not been evaluated using robust research designs for patient safety interventions. We present an emergent framework of criteria for effective e-safety netting tools, to support the development of software. The framework is based on validated frameworks from electronic health record development and patient safety. There are currently no tools available that meet all of the criteria in the framework. We hope the framework will stimulate clinical and public conversation about e-safety netting tools. In the future, a validated framework would drive audit and improvement. We outline key areas for future research, both in primary care and within integrated care systems.