Cognitive Biases in Emergency Physicians
Author Information
Author(s): Ng Mingwei, Wong Evelyn, Sim Guek Gwee, Heng Pek Jen, Terry Gareth, Yann Foo Yang
Primary Institution: Singapore General Hospital
Hypothesis
How do sociocultural factors lead to cognitive biases and medical errors among emergency physicians?
Conclusion
Cognitive biases and errors in clinical decision-making can arise due to lapses in distributed team cognition.
Supporting Evidence
- Emergency medicine increasingly relies on team-based approaches to reduce cognitive errors.
- Participants expressed that blind trust in colleagues can lead to significant medical errors.
- Handovers in emergency medicine often oversimplify cases, increasing the risk of cognitive biases.
- Adherence to clinical protocols can sometimes lead to tunnel vision and missed diagnoses.
- Participants noted that cultural norms influence their decision-making and communication styles.
Takeaway
Doctors sometimes make mistakes because they trust their teammates too much and don't double-check information.
Methodology
Qualitative study using reflexive thematic analysis with focus group discussions.
Potential Biases
Participants may have experienced groupthink or social desirability bias during discussions.
Limitations
The study primarily focuses on decision-making within ED teams and does not fully address interactions with the broader healthcare system.
Participant Demographics
Emergency physicians of varying seniority from three different institutions.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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