title: Decision analysis as a tool to support an analytical pattern-of-reasoning.
abstract: Decision analysis is offered as a tool to aid nurses' decision-making in complex and troublesome situations where there are mutually exclusive actions and time is available for deliberation. Decision analysis can be formal or informal. Formal decision analysis provides a structure for representing the decision situation and a mathematical procedure for prescribing the alternative action that is most consistent with what is known and what one values. Informal decision analysis uses the concepts and sometimes the structure of decision analysis, but usually does not include the mathematical calculations. In the present paper, the authors illustrate how formal and informal decision analysis might be used by nurses to: (i) enhance their own decision-making; (ii) assist patients or family caregivers with decision-making and; (iii) promote informed health care policy development. Finally, the advantages and limitations of decision analysis are discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Metropolitan State University, 700 East Seventh Street, St. Paul, MN 55106, USA. sunarayan@attbi.com
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Narayan
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Corcoran-Perry
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Drew
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoyman
authors.forename: Marsha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D003201:Computers; D003657:Decision Making; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D003663:Decision Trees; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008128:Logic; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000379:methods; D009742:Nursing Theory; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology; D011336:Probability; D011340:Problem Solving