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The beguiling pursuit of more information
D A Redelmeier1, E Shafir, P S Aujla
1Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. dar@ices.on.ca
Summary
Clinicians may make different medical decisions when they actively seek information versus when it is readily available. This cognitive bias highlights the importance of understanding information pursuit in clinical decision-making.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Medical Decision Making
- Healthcare Professional Behavior
Background:
- Clinicians' decision-making processes are influenced by how they acquire information.
- The study investigates whether the act of seeking information alters its perceived importance and subsequent choices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if clinicians' decisions differ when they pursue information versus when they receive it upfront.
- To explore the impact of information-seeking behavior on clinical judgment.
Main Methods:
- Survey-based study involving 1206 clinicians (dialysis nurses, urologists, academic physicians).
- Participants received medical scenarios in either a 'simple' or 'search' version, differing only in whether information was actively obtained.
- Random assignment ensured unbiased comparison between scenario versions.
Main Results:
- Dialysis nurses were more likely to donate kidneys when they pursued compatibility information (65%) than when suitability was known initially (44%).
- Similar decision-making discrepancies were observed in urologists' surgical choices and academic physicians' emergency management decisions.
- Statistical significance (P=0.007) noted in the kidney donation scenario.
Conclusions:
- Actively pursuing information can increase its salience and perceived importance for clinicians.
- Awareness of this cognitive bias is crucial for enhancing clinical decision-making in complex medical scenarios.
- Understanding information acquisition pathways can mitigate biases in medical judgment.