The Impact of Choice Architecture on Sepsis Fluid Resuscitation Decisions: An Exploratory Survey-Based Study.
MDM Policy Pract 2022;
7:23814683221099454. [PMID:
35592271 PMCID:
PMC9112319 DOI:
10.1177/23814683221099454]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Discordance with well-known sepsis resuscitation guidelines is often
attributed to rational assessments of patients at the point of care.
Conversely, we sought to explore the impact of choice architecture (i.e.,
the environment, manner, and behavioral psychology within which options are
presented and decisions are made) on decisions to prescribe
guideline-discordant fluid volumes.
Design
We conducted an electronic, survey-based study using a septic shock clinical
vignette. Physicians from multiple specialties and training levels at an
academic tertiary-care hospital and academic safety-net hospital were
randomized to distinct answer sets: control (6 fluid options), time
constraint (6 fluid options with a 10-s limit to answer), or choice overload
(25 fluid options). The primary outcome was discordance with Surviving
Sepsis Campaign fluid resuscitation guidelines. We also measured response
times and examined the relationship between each choice architecture
intervention group, response time, and guideline discordance.
Results
A total of 189 of 624 (30.3%) physicians completed the survey. Time spent
answering the vignette was reduced in time constraint (9.5 s, interquartile
range [IQR] 7.3 s to 10.0 s, P < 0.001) and increased in
choice overload (56.8 s, IQR 35.9 s to 86.7 s, P <
0.001) groups compared with control (28.3 s, IQR 20.0 s to 44.6 s). In
contrast, the relative risk of guideline discordance was higher in time
constraint (2.07, 1.33 to 3.23, P = 0.001) and lower in
choice overload (0.75, 0.60, to 0.95, P =0.02) groups.
After controlling for time spent reading the vignette, the overall odds of
choosing guideline-discordant fluid volumes were reduced for every
additional second spent answering the vignette (OR 0.98, 0.97, to 0.99,
P < 0.001).
Conclusions
Choice architecture may affect fluid resuscitation decisions in sepsis
regardless of patient conditions, warranting further investigation in
real-world contexts. These effects should be considered when implementing
practice guidelines.
Highlights
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