Human Factors & Bias

Question 1

Anchoring bias?

Answer 1

Fixation on information gathered early during assessment, and assoc. failure to re-evaluate as more important information becomes available

Question 2

Overconfidence?

Answer 2

Overestimating diagnostic

certainty / ability

Question 3

Confirmation bias?

Answer 3

Information gathered during assessment used to support preconceived diagnosis or clinical impression

Question 4

Premature closure?

Answer 4

No longer searching for other diagnoses after apparent confirmation of the clinician’s initial suspicions (following a brief history gathering process)

Question 5

Framing bias / effect?

Answer 5

Tendency for clinicians to interpret information differently depending on the way and context the information is received

Question 6

Fundamental attribution bias?

Answer 6

Disproportionate blaming of the patient on their non-clinical traits for their presentation
(related to negative stereo-typing)

Question 7

Omission bias?

Answer 7

Viewing harm caused by acting as worse than harm caused by failing to act

Question 8

Diagnostic momentum?

Answer 8

Accepting a previous diagnosis without sufficient scepticism or reassessment of the circumstance of the patient.

Question 9

Human Factors:

“HALTS”?

Answer 9

Hungry
Angry / Anxious
Lethargic / Fatigued
Timing (late or time pressure)
Stressed