Articles tagged with Decision Making
A new report from The Gerontological Society of America highlights the importance of advance directives in securing appropriate advanced illness care. It presents new models and tools that family members and providers can use to provide person- and family-centered care, which may be cost-effective.
Researchers at MIT have created a new visualization system that projects a robot's intentions in real-time, enabling engineers to better understand and optimize their decisions. This technology has the potential to significantly improve the development of self-driving cars, package-delivering drones, and other autonomous vehicles.
The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care recommends against using the PSA test to screen for prostate cancer in most men, citing an increased risk of false positives and overdiagnosis. The guideline aims to balance potential benefits with substantial harms.
A new adaptive management approach could improve outcomes in disease outbreaks by allowing for quick updates to interventions based on real-time information. This flexible approach has been proposed as a way to contain outbreaks more efficiently and effectively, saving lives and millions of dollars.
A flexible approach to managing disease outbreaks, called adaptive management, allows for real-time updates to contain outbreaks more quickly and efficiently. This approach could lead to significant savings in livestock losses and improved outcomes in cases like foot-and-mouth disease.
Research shows that people associate specific facial traits with personality traits, leading to biased decisions. Studies have found that faces associated with competence, dominance, and friendliness influence social outcomes, such as election results and military rank attainment.
Research from Oregon State University found that children's poor decision-making skills at age 10-11 can lead to behavioral difficulties and high-risk health behavior in their teen years. Early intervention may help improve outcomes by teaching decision-making skills.
A new study found that consumers who feel guilty focus on concrete details, while those feeling ashamed consider the bigger picture. This insight can help companies tailor their ads to avoid negative effects.
The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) has launched a free menopause mobile app, MenoPro, that uses an algorithm to help clinicians and patients make personalized treatment decisions. The app offers two modes, including one for healthcare providers and one for patients, and provides access to NAMS resources and a cardiovascular di...
A new study by Michigan State University researchers found that men tend to focus on an artist's background and authenticity when evaluating art, while women prioritize the artwork itself. This finding has implications for the $64 billion art market and other industries where creativity is involved.
A study reveals that female fruit flies use a small number of excitatory neurons and neurotransmitters like acetylcholine to decide whether to accept or reject male courtship. The decision-making process is found to be generated in three brain regions, suggesting a complex circuit involving sensory inputs and neural signaling.
A new supplement published in Health Policy and Planning presents the latest research on people-centred health systems, emphasizing the importance of patient and community involvement. The studies reveal four key themes: ensuring people have a voice, putting people first in healthcare design, recognizing social relationships within hea...
Research at Royal Holloway University found that individuals with delusions tend to make hasty choices in daily life. They gather less information before making decisions, leading to potentially less successful outcomes.
Scientists discovered a new type of brain activity that forecasts when a spontaneous decision occurs more than a second in advance. The premotor cortex neurons can predict the rat's actions with remarkable accuracy.
CWRU researchers are investigating how patients make end-of-life decisions, with a focus on improving the quality of life for patients and their loved ones. The four-year study aims to better understand the complex interactions between healthcare professionals, caregivers, and patients in making these decisions.
Researchers used neural recordings to predict when a rat would give up waiting for a delayed tone. The findings suggest that individual brain cells cast votes for actions, but the outcome is not predetermined.
Women facing breast cancer diagnosis can use decision analysis to evaluate alternatives for breast reconstruction, incorporating patient preferences and values. The process creates a 'decision tree' with options, outcomes, and values assigned to each outcome.
Researchers at the University of Manchester argue that environmental scientists should provide more practical solutions to climate change, but recognize the need for a broader skill-set. They suggest integrating social science and humanities to enrich public debates about responding to environmental change.
In unpredictable situations, rats abandon past experience for random choices, controlled by the anterior cingulate cortex. This finding may have implications for human disorders like depression, where ordinary decision-making is ineffective.
Researchers at Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Research Campus found that the brain can temporarily disconnect past experiences from decision-making circuits, triggering random behavior. The team manipulated a stress hormone called norepinephrine to switch between random and strategic modes.
A study of pregnant women receiving computerized decision-support guides found significantly less invasive diagnostic testing compared to those without. The intervention resulted in more women choosing no or screening-only testing strategies.
A new study published in PLOS Computational Biology found that pupil size can predict the reliability of decisions. Researchers measured pupil size before participants made decisions and found that larger pupils were associated with poorer performance.
A Sam Houston State University study examines the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in policing, identifying key uses and limitations. The review found that while GIS is widely used for crime mapping and profiling, there is a lack of independent evaluations on its effectiveness in curbing crime.
A Baylor University study reveals that states with stricter lobbying regulations promote more equal political representation, narrowing the gap between rich and poor citizens' opinions. States with more restrictions on professional lobbyists tend to score higher in terms of equality of representation.
Researchers found that people in a 'calculative mindset' are more likely to analyze non-numerical problems mathematically and overlook social and moral factors. Participants displayed significantly more selfish behavior when given lessons on calculative economics concepts.
The American Gastroenterological Association has released a new clinical decision tool to guide gastroenterologists in assessing and treating patients with Crohn's disease. The tool synthesizes current literature to create a practical algorithm for clinicians, providing a pathway for better quality care.
A University of Iowa study found that teenagers' brains are more sensitive to immediate rewards, leading to impulsive behavior. The researchers suggest limiting distractions to help teens develop impulse-control skills.
Research from University of British Columbia suggests dopamine plays a key role in guiding risky decisions. The study found that altering dopamine signals can impact decision-making, leading to more or less conservative choices.
A new study by Henry Ford Hospital found that over 95% of patients treated in an Emergency Department incorrectly assume their emergency contact is their designated medical decision maker for end-of-life care. This misunderstanding can lead to invasive treatments and unnecessary suffering. The study emphasizes the importance of educati...
A new University of Michigan study found significant variation in hospital admissions for ER patients with common non-life-threatening conditions, resulting in estimated annual costs of $5 billion and $266 billion. The study analyzed data from 961 hospitals and 28.5 million emergency visits, revealing that some conditions had high rate...
A new study found that residency training in locations with less intensive practice patterns is associated with better clinical decision-making. Physicians trained in these environments consistently scored higher on a management exam subscale, indicating their ability to make conservative decisions without sacrificing patient outcomes.
Experts argue that OEF is essential for reducing earthquake risk by providing authoritative information to policymakers and the public. Key findings include the potential for significant changes in earthquake probabilities over time, influenced by local seismic activity.
Research found that human gamblers and pigeons are 35% more likely to take risks for high-value rewards due to past experiences. The study suggests a shared psychology driving risk-taking behavior across species.
Researchers found that ADHD children use less differentiated learning patterns, leading to suboptimal decisions. The study used mathematical models and multimodal imaging to examine brain activity in participants with and without ADHD.
MIT researchers have created an algorithm that enables a drone to monitor its health in real-time, allowing it to take proactive measures during delivery missions. The approach simplifies planning by separating vehicle-level and mission-level tasks, resulting in more efficient and reliable deliveries.
Researchers at UTSA have identified key factors limiting veterans' ability to secure jobs and offer strategies for organizations and veterans to enhance their access. The study highlights the importance of addressing stereotypes, educating decision-makers about military skills transfer, and creating a culture that values hiring veterans.
Habits emerge through associative learning, involving automatic behaviors in stable contexts. Changing habits requires derailing existing habits, repetition, and stable context cues.
Researchers at UCL developed an equation to predict happiness based on recent rewards, expectations, and neural activity. The study involved 18,420 participants and found that moment-to-moment happiness reflects not just how well things are going but whether they're better than expected.
A study found that declines in visual perception speed are strongly related to declines in intelligence in old age. The researchers tested 600 healthy older people on a simple task of visual perception and found that the brain's ability to make correct decisions based on brief visual impressions limits complex mental functions.
A study found significant variation in hospital use of medical consultations for surgical patients, with greater differences among those without complications. Hospitals that are non-teaching or for-profit have a higher rate of medical consultation use, while larger hospitals have more consultations for THR patients.
An analysis of 361 kicks from World Cup and UEFA Euro Cup matches reveals goalkeepers become increasingly likely to dive in the opposite direction after kickers repeatedly kick in one direction. This cognitive fallacy highlights the importance of monitoring sequential behavior in real-world competition.
Corinna E. Löckenhoff, PhD, of Cornell University, has been recognized by the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) with the 2014 Baltes Foundation Award in Behavioral and Social Gerontology. Her groundbreaking research focuses on age differences in socioemotional functioning and their implications for health-related decision making.
Research from University of Illinois expert Ravi Mehta found that people are self-controlled in everyday behavior, but indulge when thinking long-term. Abstract thinking can lead to feelings of missing out, regret, and corrective overindulgence, contradicting common consumer psychology literature.
A BYU business study found that using violent language by CEOs can lead to unethical behavior among rival employees, but not when the CEO uses such language with their own team. The research highlights the impact of leadership rhetoric on employee ethics and encourages CEOs to reconsider their communication strategies.
A recent national poll found that most parents seek healthcare providers' guidance on circumcision but don't want a specific recommendation. Only 23% of respondents wanted their pediatrician to make a decision for them.
Researchers found that people in high-status leadership positions tend to prioritize security over privacy. However, the study suggests that good practices and sensible rules on security can enhance security without negatively impacting privacy.
A novel study reveals that more than half of liver transplant patients want to be informed of donor risk at the time a liver is offered, with nearly 80% wanting to be involved in decision-making. The study aims to standardize patient information and involvement in transplantation decisions.
Men are more likely to slow their pace in the marathon, with a 15.6% average slowing in the second half compared to 11.7% for women, according to a Grand Valley State University study. Physiological factors, such as men's use of less fat and more carbohydrate during endurance exercise, may contribute to this sex difference.
Researchers found that monkeys consistently show the hot-hand bias, even when faced with random rewards, suggesting an evolutionary adaptation for foraging in the wild. The study's findings could inform treatment for gambling addiction and provide insights for investors.
A study by Harvard University researchers found that allowing people to vote on resource harvesting led to the preservation of these resources for future generations. The voting system used was based on the median of all votes cast, which encouraged altruistic decisions and cooperation across generations.
A study by Boston College Marketing Professor Linda Salisbury found that minimum payment warnings had little impact on repayment decisions, but showing a three-year payoff time frame with accompanying lower interest costs led to both positive and negative effects. Some consumers were encouraged to pay more, while others were nudged tow...
Researchers tracked neural activity to discover covert changes of mind in monkeys and humans, finding they're more frequent in uncertain conditions. The study offers new insights into decision-making processes and innovative ways to study this complex behavior.
A new approach to mammogram interpretation takes into account a woman's health risk profile, reducing missed cancer diagnoses by 3.7% and false positives by 3.23%. The method uses statistical weighting based on profile risk to improve biopsy decisions.
A recent study suggests that e-cigarettes are significantly less hazardous than traditional tobacco products, contrary to common perceptions. Meanwhile, research indicates that alcohol poses the greatest risk to public health, causing more harm than other recreational drugs.
New patient empowerment initiatives unveiled at EULAR 2014 aim to reduce treatment costs, improve patient experience and increase patient involvement in treatment decisions. These initiatives include self-monitoring, online learning resources, patient decision aids and video guides.
The BMJ is implementing a patient partnership strategy to integrate patients' perspectives into its editorial processes, research, and healthcare advocacy. This initiative aims to advance shared decision-making, patient-centered care, and impact assessment of patient partnerships.
A study by University of Waterloo professors found that considering personal dilemmas as outsiders would lead to wiser reasoning. Employing a third-person perspective can help individuals think more wisely about relationship conflicts. The research results contradict the adage that age brings wisdom and highlight the importance of self...
A recent study from the University of California, Davis suggests that random fluctuations in brain activity may contribute to our ability to make choices. The researchers found that patterns of brain activity before a decision can predict the outcome of the decision.
A study found that healthcare providers and women have different priorities when it comes to contraception. For women, safety and side effects are top concerns, while providers focus on method usage and effectiveness. The mismatch between these priorities underscores the need for shared decision-making processes.
A group of experts examines whether people with advanced dementia have the right to use advance directives to stop receiving food and water by mouth, despite lacking decision-making capacity. Key findings include the potential benefits and harms of such directives, as well as proposed guidelines for implementation.