Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Special Statement: Cognitive bias and medical error in obstetrics—challenges and opportunities
SMFM, F Atallah, RF Hamm, CM Davidson, CA Combs, Patient Safety and Quality Committee2022
SMFM, F Atallah, RF Hamm, CM Davidson, CA Combs, Patient Safety and Quality Committee — 2022
The processes of diagnosis and management involve clinical decision-making. However, decision-making is often affected by cognitive biases that can lead to medical errors. This statement presents a framework of clinical thinking and decision-making and shows how these processes can be bias-prone. We review examples of cognitive bias in obstetrics and introduce debiasing tools and strategies. When an adverse event or near miss is reviewed, the concept of a cognitive autopsy—a root cause analysis of medical decision-making and the potential influence of cognitive biases—is promoted as part of the review process. Finally, areas for future research on cognitive bias in obstetrics are suggested.
The processes of diagnosis and management involve clinical decision-making. However, decision-making is often affected by cognitive biases that can lead to medical errors. This statement presents a framework of clinical thinking and decision-making and shows how these processes can be bias-prone. We review examples of cognitive bias in obstetrics and introduce debiasing tools and strategies. When an adverse event or near miss is reviewed, the concept of a cognitive autopsy—a root cause analysis of medical decision-making and the potential influence of cognitive biases—is promoted as part of the review process. Finally, areas for future research on cognitive bias in obstetrics are suggested.