title: Heuristics: foundations for a novel approach to medical decision making.
abstract: Medical decision-making is a complex process that often takes place during uncertainty, that is, when knowledge, time, and resources are limited. How can we ensure good decisions? We present research on heuristics-simple rules of thumb-and discuss how medical decision-making can benefit from these tools. We challenge the common view that heuristics are only second-best solutions by showing that they can be more accurate, faster, and easier to apply in comparison to more complex strategies. Using the example of fast-and-frugal decision trees, we illustrate how heuristics can be studied and implemented in the medical context. Finally, we suggest how a heuristic-friendly culture supports the study and application of heuristics as complementary strategies to existing decision rules.
authors.affiliation: Harding Center for Risk Literacy, Berlin, Germany, nicolai.bodemer@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nicolai
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bodemer
authors.forename: Yaniv
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hanoch
authors.forename: Konstantinos V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Katsikopoulos
mesh_terms: D000066491:Clinical Decision-Making / Q000379:methods*; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D000066506:Heuristics; D006801:Humans