title: Therapeutic decision making of physicians.
abstract: In this review the therapeutic decision-making process of physicians is described. This process is divided into two steps: the generation of a limited set of possible options (the 'evoked set') and the selection from this evoked set of a treatment for a specific patient. Factors that are important in both steps are reviewed. Behavioural and decision-making theories in general and decision-making analysis of physicians in particular are discussed to identify possible shortcomings in their decision-making process. Based on this information a model of the drug choice process is presented. With reference to this model possible ways of influencing drug choices of physicians are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences/Northern Centre for Healthcare Research, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Denig
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Haaijer-Ruskamp
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making; D004358:Drug Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010820:Physicians