[Clinical judgment and decision, pedagogy and practice].

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Health Services Research
• Clinical Decision Support

Context:

• Despite the recognized potential of computer applications in medicine, their widespread adoption remains limited.
• Challenges in computer use stem from both cultural factors and technical complexities.
• Effective integration requires defining specific computer purposes and addressing user training needs.

Purpose:

• To analyze the difficulties encountered in the practical application of computer systems in medicine.
• To propose a revised approach for computer applications in clinical research, emphasizing theoretical training.
• To highlight the value of decision-making analysis as a teaching tool for statistical concepts and health economics.

Summary:

• This study examines barriers to computer adoption in healthcare and suggests that a foundational understanding of decision-making analysis is crucial.
• Formal training in decision-making analysis can enhance the effective use of computer systems in clinical research and health management.
• Oncology is identified as a prime area for application due to its complex domains and data management needs.

Impact:

• Recommends a minimal theoretical training to prevent user "delusions" from self-teaching computer applications.
• Advocates for the formal analysis of decision-making as a pedagogical tool to improve statistical understanding and health economic evaluations.
• Suggests that systematic data collection in fields like oncology can drive impactful, lasting computer applications in clinical research.