title: Retina specialists treating cystoid macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusion recommend different treatments for patients than they would choose for themselves.
abstract: To evaluate the presence of cognitive bias among retinal specialists when recommending treatment options for cystoid macular oedema (CMO) secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO).
  
  
  
  Two randomly chosen samples of retina specialists were surveyed regarding their treatment and dosing regimen choices among three antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) biologics (aflibercept, bevacizumab and ranibizumab), intravitreal steroid, focal laser and observation for the treatment of CMO secondary to RVO. The first group was asked to make recommendations for two hypothetical patients: one with CMO secondary to branch RVO (BRVO) and the second with CMO secondary to central RVO (CRVO). The second group was asked to make recommendations as if they themselves were the hypothetical patient with the same disease processes.
  
  
  
  The survey was completed by 492 respondents (20.1%). When comparing anti-VEGF agents for patients with BRVO, a majority of physicians recommended bevacizumab (60.5%) over ranibizumab (37.8%) and aflibercept (1.7%; p<0.0001). For themselves, physicians were more likely to recommend ranibizumab (44.9%) over bevacizumab (39.2%) and aflibercept (15.9%; p<0.0001). When comparing among the anti-VEGF agents chosen for patients with CRVO, a majority of physicians recommended bevacizumab (56.7%) over ranibizumab (28.2%) and aflibercept (15.1%; p<0.0001), but when choosing for themselves, retina specialists were equally divided among the three biologics (aflibercept 30.6%, bevacizumab 36.5% and ranibizumab 32.9%; p=0.559). The results were influenced by geographical location but not by the gender, the length of practice or the type of practice.
  
  
  
  Physicians should be aware that cognitive biases exist and take this into consideration when making treatment recommendations for their patients.
authors.affiliation: Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Department of Ophthalmology, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Marlene D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Department of Ophthalmology, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Karen W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Jeng-Miller
authors.affiliation: Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Department of Ophthalmology, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Henry L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Department of Ophthalmology, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA NJ Retina, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Prenner
authors.affiliation: Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Department of Ophthalmology, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA NJ Retina, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Howard F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Fine
authors.affiliation: Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Department of Ophthalmology, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA NJ Retina, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Sumit P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003657:Decision Making; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000193:education*; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D013038:Specialization; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D007155:Immunologic Factors
keywords: Medical Education; Retina