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Methods Inf Med 1989; 28(01): 20-23
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1635545
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH

Risk Rate Neglect in Decisions Involving Invasive Diagnostic Procedures

P. Manu
1   University of Connecticut School of Medicine and Veterans Administration Medical Center, Farmington and Newington, CT, USA
,
T. J. Lane
1   University of Connecticut School of Medicine and Veterans Administration Medical Center, Farmington and Newington, CT, USA
,
P. P. White
1   University of Connecticut School of Medicine and Veterans Administration Medical Center, Farmington and Newington, CT, USA
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
20 February 2018 (online)

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Abstract:

To investigate whether the risk of life-threatening complications influence the decisions involving invasive diagnostic procedures, a study was conducted that focused on the use of coronary angiography and endomyocardial biopsy with risk rates of either 1 % or 2%. The participants included 38 physicians from two university-affiliated hospitals. Of their 76 pairs of decisions, 53% were of the “risk-avoidance” type and 26% were of the “risk-taking” type. Only 13% of decisions were of the “risk-conscious” type. The practical implication of these biases can be substantial in real-life decisions regarding events with low-probability, but high-consequence risks.

Key-Words:

Risk Perception - Diagnostic Procedures
 

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