Journal article
Automated detection of heuristics and biases among pathologists in a computer-based system
Advances in health sciences education : theory and practice, Vol.18(3), pp.343-363
08/2013
DOI: 10.1007/s10459-012-9374-z
PMCID: PMC3728442
PMID: 22618855
Abstract
The purpose of this study is threefold: (1) to develop an automated, computer-based method to detect heuristics and biases as pathologists examine virtual slide cases, (2) to measure the frequency and distribution of heuristics and errors across three levels of training, and (3) to examine relationships of heuristics to biases, and biases to diagnostic errors. The authors conducted the study using a computer-based system to view and diagnose virtual slide cases. The software recorded participant responses throughout the diagnostic process, and automatically classified participant actions based on definitions of eight common heuristics and/or biases. The authors measured frequency of heuristic use and bias across three levels of training. Biases studied were detected at varying frequencies, with availability and search satisficing observed most frequently. There were few significant differences by level of training. For representativeness and anchoring, the heuristic was used appropriately as often or more often than it was used in biased judgment. Approximately half of the diagnostic errors were associated with one or more biases. We conclude that heuristic use and biases were observed among physicians at all levels of training using the virtual slide system, although their frequencies varied. The system can be employed to detect heuristic use and to test methods for decreasing diagnostic errors resulting from cognitive biases.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Automated detection of heuristics and biases among pathologists in a computer-based system
- Creators
- Rebecca Crowley - Department of Pathology University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Pittsburgh PA USAElizabeth Legowski - Department of Biomedical Informatics University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine UPMC Shadyside Cancer Pavilion—Room 313, 5150 Centre Avenue Pittsburgh PA 15232 USAOlga Medvedeva - Department of Biomedical Informatics University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine UPMC Shadyside Cancer Pavilion—Room 313, 5150 Centre Avenue Pittsburgh PA 15232 USAKayse Reitmeyer - Department of Biomedical Informatics University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine UPMC Shadyside Cancer Pavilion—Room 313, 5150 Centre Avenue Pittsburgh PA 15232 USAEugene Tseytlin - Department of Biomedical Informatics University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine UPMC Shadyside Cancer Pavilion—Room 313, 5150 Centre Avenue Pittsburgh PA 15232 USAMelissa Castine - Department of Biomedical Informatics University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine UPMC Shadyside Cancer Pavilion—Room 313, 5150 Centre Avenue Pittsburgh PA 15232 USADrazen Jukic - Department of Dermatology University of South Florida Tampa FL USAClaudia Mello-Thoms - Department of Biomedical Informatics University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine UPMC Shadyside Cancer Pavilion—Room 313, 5150 Centre Avenue Pittsburgh PA 15232 USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Advances in health sciences education : theory and practice, Vol.18(3), pp.343-363
- DOI
- 10.1007/s10459-012-9374-z
- PMID
- 22618855
- PMCID
- PMC3728442
- NLM abbreviation
- Adv Health Sci Educ Theory Pract
- ISSN
- 1382-4996
- eISSN
- 1573-1677
- Publisher
- Springer Netherlands; Dordrecht
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/2013
- Academic Unit
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Radiology
- Record Identifier
- 9984051758502771
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