Evidence map›Paper›PMID 27905926›Full record

ArticleBMC medical informatics and decision making2016

Understanding clinical and non-clinical decisions under uncertainty: a scenario-based survey.

Writing Group for CERTAIN-CHOICES, Vlad V Simianu, Margaret A Grounds, Susan L Joslyn, Jared E LeClerc, Anne P Ehlers, Nidhi Agrawal, Rafael Alfonso-Cristancho, Abraham D Flaxman, David R Flum

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medical informatics and decision making, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Policy Options for Reducing Defensive Medicine Behaviors: A Multi-Method Study.Medical journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran · 2024
    Article
  4. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Writing Group for CERTAIN-CHOICES
Vlad V SimianuDepartment of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. vsimianu@uw.edu.
Margaret A GroundsDepartment of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Susan L JoslynDepartment of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Jared E LeClercDepartment of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Anne P EhlersDepartment of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Nidhi AgrawalFoster School of Business, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Rafael Alfonso-CristanchoSurgical Outcomes Research Center (SORCE), University of Washington Medical Center, Box 354808, 1107 NE 45th St., Suite 502, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA.
Abraham D FlaxmanInstitute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
David R FlumDepartment of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

Funding

Renewal: Gastrointestinal Surgery Outcomes Research FellowshipT32DK070555 · NIDDK · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · PI FLUM, DAVID R · 2010 to 2024
$3.6M
NIDDK NIH HHS T32 DK070555
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundProspect theory suggests that when faced with an uncertain outcome, people display loss aversion by preferring to risk a greater loss rather than incurring certain, lesser cost. Providing probability information improves decision making towards the economically optimal choice in these situations. Clinicians frequently make decisions when the outcome is uncertain, and loss aversion may influence choices. This study explores the extent to which prospect theory, loss aversion, and probability information in a non-clinical domain explains clinical decision making under uncertainty.

methodsFour hundred sixty two participants (n = 117 non-medical undergraduates, n = 113 medical students, n = 117 resident trainees, and n = 115 medical/surgical faculty) completed a three-part online task. First, participants completed an iced-road salting task using temperature forecasts with or without explicit probability information. Second, participants chose between less or more risk-averse ("defensive medicine") decisions in standardized scenarios. Last, participants chose between recommending therapy with certain outcomes or risking additional years gained or lost.

resultsIn the road salting task, the mean expected value for decisions made by clinicians was better than for non-clinicians(-$1,022 vs -$1,061; <0.001). Probability information improved decision making for all participants, but non-clinicians improved more (mean improvement of $64 versus $33; p = 0.027). Mean defensive decisions decreased across training level (medical students 2.1 ± 0.9, residents 1.6 ± 0.8, faculty1.6 ± 1.1; p-trend < 0.001) and prospect-theory-concordant decisions increased (25.4%, 33.9%, and 40.7%;p-trend = 0.016). There was no relationship identified between road salting choices with defensive medicine and prospect-theory-concordant decisions.

conclusionsAll participants made more economically-rational decisions when provided explicit probability information in a non-clinical domain. However, choices in the non-clinical domain were not related to prospect-theory concordant decision making and risk aversion tendencies in the clinical domain. Recognizing this discordance may be important when applying prospect theory to interventions aimed at improving clinical care.

Indexed as

Clinical Decision-MakingDecision MakingPhysiciansStudentsUncertaintyAdolescentAdultAgedFacultyFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedStudents, MedicalUniversitiesYoung AdultDecision makingDefensive medicineProbabilityUncertainty

Identifiers

PMID27905926
PMCPMC5131551

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.