Acknowledging biases improves geriatric care

Being aware of biases improves healthcare decisions, according to the Gerontological Society of America. A new report, “Recognizing Hidden Traps in Health Care Decision Making," provides guidelines to overcome barriers in providing care to elderly patients.

Intended for physicians, nurses, psychologists and many other medical professionals caring for the elderly, the report outlines common heuristics and cognitive biases as the barriers in proving effective care.

“Everyone involved in health care decision making—including patients, providers, and caregivers—benefits from being aware of these shortcuts. The heuristics and biases outlined in the report are very common—we all use them,” said Jake Harwood, PhD, chair of the advisory board that oversaw the new publication’s development. “Sometimes they are functional, but a lot of the time they lead to poor decision making. What's great about the report is that it raises awareness of these shortcuts, and awareness is a great way of improving decision making.”

The report goes through hypothetical cases in which nonprescription analgesics and recommended immunizations are used. When using nonprescription painkillers, patients must strictly follow the labels on medication or risk developing negative side effects. The factor is multiplied in geriatric patients. In each case, the report gives communication tips on how to avoid biases with the overall hope that the report will improve the decision-making process.