Confirmation Bias Effects on Healthcare & Patients: A Literature Review
Sierra Sohan Ramachandran1, Pravallika Padyala2, Jungwoo Park3, Rajesh Goud Aithagoni3, Vishnu Hasini Pokala1, Mohamed Ismael Mohamed1, Krupavaram Bethala5 and Sailaja Nandennagari3*
1Neuqua Valley High School, Naperville, Illinois, USA
2Baylor University, Texas, USA
3Avalon University School of Medicine, Curacao
4Alexandra Faculty of Medicine, Egypt
5KPJ Healthcare University, Nilai, Malaysia
*Corresponding Author: Sailaja Nandennagari, Avalon University School of Medicine, Curacao.
Published: October 01, 2024
DOI: 10.55162/MCMS.07.242
Abstract
Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information that confirms preexisting beliefs, and significantly impacts healthcare and patient outcomes. This literature review explores the various impacts of confirmation bias on medical professionals, patients, caregivers, etc, and draws from a variety of studies, observations, and surveys. For healthcare providers, confirmation bias can result in diagnostic errors, specified treatment decisions, and biased/skewed interpretation of data regarding a patient which has detrimental effects on clinical judgments and healthcare quality. Similarly, on the patient side, confirmation bias influences health behaviors, following medical advice, and thoughts regarding illnesses, which cause adverse health outcomes. The review emphasizes key mechanisms by which confirmation bias appears in clinical settings, including cognitive heuristics, diagnostic anchoring, and patient-practitioner interactions. Furthermore, the review discusses ways to alleviate the negative impacts of confirmation bias, such as incorporating specified guidelines, increasing training and awareness, and enhancing open communication. By understanding current research, this literature review emphasizes the need for proactive measures addressing confirmation bias to improve decision-making processes and healthcare solutions/outcomes in medical practice.
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