The Role of Physicians' First Impressions in the Diagnosis of Possible Cancers without Alarm Symptoms.

Background: First impressions are thought to exert a disproportionate influence on subsequent judgments; however, their role in medical diagnosis has not been systematically studied. We aimed to elicit and measure the association between first impressions and subsequent diagnoses in common presentations with subtle indications of cancer.

Methods: Ninety UK family physicians conducted interactive simulated consultations online, while on the phone with a researcher.