title: What Do Physicians Believe About the Way Decisions Are Made? A Pilot Study on Metacognitive Knowledge in the Medical Context.
abstract: Metacognition relative to medical decision making has been poorly investigated to date. However, beliefs about methods of decision making (metacognition) play a fundamental role in determining the efficiency of the decision itself. In the present study, we investigated a set of beliefs that physicians develop in relation to the modes of making decisions in a professional environment. The Solomon Questionnaire, designed to assess metacognitive knowledge about behaviors and mental processes involved in decision making, was administered to a sample of 18 emergency physicians, 18 surgeons, and 18 internists. Significant differences in metacognitive knowledge emerged among these three medical areas. Physicians' self-reports about the decision process mirrored the peculiarities of the context in which they operate. Their metacognitive knowledge demonstrated a reflective attitude that is an effective tool during the decision making process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Iannello
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Perucca
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Interdisciplinary Centre for Research and Intervention on Decision (IRIDe Centre), Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antonietti
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Interdisciplinary Centre for Research and Intervention on Decision (IRIDe Centre), Milan, Italy; Institute of Oncology (IEO), Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pravettoni
keywords: emergency care; internal medicine; medical decision making; metacognition; self-awareness; surgery