Published in Science · View the paper (DOI)
A new study found that physicians are more likely to switch between vaginal and cesarean deliveries based on past experiences, rather than the best clinical decision for each patient. This 'heuristic' approach can lead to small but significant suboptimal effects on patient health outcomes.
Coverage from 2 institutions
- If doctors use heuristics to guide delivery decisions, the effects may be suboptimal American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) · Oct 14, 2021 · first to report
- New UMass Amherst study explores the decisions made by physicians in the delivery room, and why they may be making them University of Massachusetts Amherst · Oct 14, 2021