title: Clinical decision making--an art or a science? Part III: To treat or not to treat?
abstract: Part II of this series examined the two principle sources of variation: variation stemming from perceptual differences such as diagnostic errors, and variation stemming from judgmental differences such as different treatment strategies. This paper looks at judgmental variation in more detail, considers the nature of practice variation, and asks whether such variations are a sign of good or bad clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Turner Dental School, University Dental Hospital of Manchester.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kay
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nuttall
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology*; D003815:Dentists / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D011364:Professional Practice; D011787:Quality of Health Care