Problem solving

Problem solving

Transitioning from an initial state to a goal state through mental operations such as discovering information and analysing options

Goal of problem solving

Reduce gaps in knowledge by finding missing information

Algorithm

Step by step learned procedure that always gives the correct answer for a specific problem

Heuristic

“Rule of thumb” or mental shortcut used to make solving problems easier

Two types of heuristics

• availability

• representativeness

Availability heuristic

Judgement based on information readily available from memory

Representativeness heuristic

Involves estimating the likelihood of an event by comparing it to an existing prototype in our minds

Clinical implication of heuristics

Can use them - repetition in diagnosis so can take away what you want to take away

• heuristics determine health behaviours = see symptoms, assume need help

Don’t fall for heuristics (diagnostic errors) - when making decisions consider if you are making decisions because of:

• because of recently recieved information

• recent headline

• can you gather more info to support decision?

Common barriers in using heuristics

• distraction

• functional fixedness

• mental sets

• unnecessary constraints

• confirmation bias

Distraction

Attention gets diverted from the task at hand by irrelevant information

• relevant to clinical setting as nurse may be overwhelmed with workload, stress of job

Functional fixedness

The tendency to perceive an item only in terms of its most common use

Mental sets

Persist in using strategies that have worked in the past but are no longer optimal

Unnecessary constraints

People often impose unnecessary constraints on possible solutions

Confirmation bias

Tendency for people to search for confirmation of what they already believe - ignore evidence that contradicts their beliefs

Decision making

The cognitive process of choosing between two or more alternative options

• relevant as healthcare professionals must make must constantly decisions - must occur quickly when no time for thorough analysis

Patients need to make decisions about

their own treatment, behaviours, health

Health professionals need to decide how to best integrate

evidence in making decisions about their patients health

Framing effect

Cognitive bias where individuals make decisions based on how information is presented/framed rather than on the facts presented

People are more risk averse when information is presented in a

gain frame - don’t want to risk not gaining

• if the decision is to avoid a loss, people tend to be bolder in decision making

How to avoid framing

• present information quality 0 discuss benefits and risks of both treatments in equal detail

• use neutral language than emotive language - effective rather than successful

• give written information - so have more information to base decisions from

• encourage patients to ask questions and explain rationale behind decision making