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J Am Acad Audiol 2020; 31(02): 158-167
DOI: 10.3766/jaaa.18096
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Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

A Systematic Review of Interventions to Reduce the Effects of Cognitive Biases in the Decision-Making of Audiologists

Authors

  • Karyn L. Galvin

    *   Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

  • Rebecca J. Featherston

    †   Department of Social Work, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
    1   Current affiliation: Department of Social Work, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

  • Laura E. Downie

    ‡   Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

  • Adam P. Vogel

    §   Centre for Neuroscience of Speech, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
    ‖   Redenlab, Melbourne, Australia
    ¶   Department of Neurodegeneration, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
    ‡   Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

  • Bridget Hamilton

    **   Department of Nursing, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

  • Catherine Granger

    ††   Department of Physiotherapy, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

  • Aron Shlonsky

    †   Department of Social Work, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
    1   Current affiliation: Department of Social Work, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
25 May 2020 (online)

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Abstract

Background:

Audiologists are constantly making decisions that are key to optimizing client/patient outcomes, and these decisions may be vulnerable to cognitive biases.

Purpose:

The purpose was to determine the present state of knowledge within the field of audiology regarding the potential impact of cognitive biases on clinical decision-making and the use of interventions to reduce such impact.

Research Design:

A systematic review was conducted to identify and consider the outcomes of all studies in which an intervention, strategy, or procedure was implemented with the aim of reducing the impact of cognitive biases on the decision-making of audiologists.

Data Collection:

The review was part of a larger scale search which included the broader disciplines of health science and medicine. Electronic database searches were supplemented by citation searches of relevant reviews and a gray literature search. Following title and abstract screening, 201 full-text studies were considered for inclusion.

Results:

No studies were found which fulfilled the eligibility criteria.

Conclusions:

Despite initial calls to respond to these types of cognitive biases being made three decades ago, no peer-reviewed scientific studies testing strategies to reduce the impact of cognitive biases on the decision-making of audiologists were found. There is a clear need for a more concerted research effort in this area if audiologists are to consistently deliver truly evidence-based care.

Key Words

audiology - audiologists - clinical decision-making - cognitive bias

This work was supported by a Collaborative Seed Funding Grant awarded by the Melbourne School of Health Sciences at The University of Melbourne.