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Related Concept Videos

Heuristics01:21

Heuristics

174
Heuristics are problem-solving strategies that use mental shortcuts to simplify decision-making. Unlike algorithms, which must be followed precisely to achieve a correct result, heuristics offer a general problem-solving framework. They save time and energy but can sometimes lead to less rational decisions.
People often rely on heuristics when faced with an overload of information, limited time, low importance of the decision, limited information, or when a heuristic readily comes to mind. For...
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The Availability Heuristic01:08

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A heuristic is a general problem-solving framework (Tversky & Kahneman, 1974). You can think of these as mental shortcuts that are used to solve problems. Different types of heuristics are used in different types of situations, and the impulse to use a heuristic occurs when one of five conditions is met (Pratkanis, 1989):
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Reason and Intuition01:37

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The human brain processes information for decision-making using one of two routes: an intuitive system and a rational system (Epstein, 1994; popularized by Kahneman, 2011 as System 1 and System 2, respectively). The intuitive system is quick, impulsive, and operates with minimal effort, relying on emotions or habits to provide cues for what to do next, while the rational system is logical, analytical, deliberate, and methodical. Research in neuropsychology suggests that the...
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Resolving an ethical dilemma in healthcare involves a systematic approach that considers every aspect of the issue, respecting both the patient's needs and values and the healthcare professional's ethical obligations. Here are potential steps to resolve an ethical dilemma:
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Documentation of Nursing Diagnosis01:10

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The nurse documents nursing diagnoses and enters them into the patient record. The identified patient's nursing diagnosis is either written out with a plan of care or entered into the electronic health record.
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Effective communication among healthcare professionals during hand-off reporting is essential to delivering safe and continuous patient care. Common professional interactions include reports to healthcare team members, hand-off, and transfer reports. Nurses routinely report information to other healthcare team members and also urgently contact healthcare providers to report changes in patient status.
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Heuristics in the delivery room.

Manasvini Singh1

  • 1College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|October 14, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Physicians may use a decision shortcut, or heuristic, when choosing between vaginal or cesarean delivery. This study found that a prior patient complication can inappropriately influence the physician

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Medical Decision-Making
  • Health Services Research

Background:

  • Clinical decisions in labor and delivery are high-stakes, often made under pressure and uncertainty.
  • Decision-making theories suggest heuristics (simplified rules) may be employed in such environments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if physicians' delivery mode decisions (vaginal vs. cesarean) are influenced by a specific heuristic.
  • To determine if prior patient outcomes impact subsequent delivery mode choices.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of electronic health records from 86,000 deliveries.
  • Statistical examination of the relationship between prior patient complications and subsequent delivery mode selection.

Main Results:

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  • Physicians were more likely to switch delivery modes for subsequent patients if the prior patient experienced complications.
  • This mode switching occurred regardless of the current patient's specific medical indications.
  • Evidence suggests this heuristic leads to small, suboptimal health outcomes for patients.

Conclusions:

  • Physicians may utilize a heuristic in delivery mode decision-making, influenced by recent patient history.
  • This decision-making pattern can lead to inappropriate delivery mode selection and negatively impact patient health.
  • Further research is needed to mitigate heuristic bias in high-pressure clinical settings.