Browsing by Subject "decision-making"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    A Generalizable Scale of Propensity to Plan: The Long and the Short of Planning for Time and for Money
    (2010) Lynch, John G; Netemeyer, Richard G; Spiller, Stephen A; Zammit, Alessandra
    Planning has pronounced effects on consumer behavior and intertemporal choice. We develop a six-item scale measuring individual differences in propensity to plan that can be adapted to different domains and used to compare planning across domains and time horizons. Adaptations tailored to planning time and money in the short run and long run each show strong evidence of reliability and validity. We find that propensity to plan is moderately domain-specific. Scale measures and actual planning measures show that for time, people plan much more for the short run than the long run; for money, short- and long-run planning differ less. Time and money adaptations of our scale exhibit sharp differences in nomological correlates; short- run and long-run adaptations differ less. Domain-specific adaptations predict frequency of actual planning in their respective domains. A "very long-run" money adaptation predicts FICO credit scores; low planners thus face materially higher cost of credit.
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    Assessment of the quality of existing patient educational tools focused on sudden cardiac arrest: a systematic evaluation by the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Thought Leadership Alliance.
    (Patient Prefer Adherence, 2013) Hazelton, Garrett; Al-Khatib, Sana M; Fonarow, Gregg C; Thomas, Kevin L; Hayes, David; Sanders, Gillian D; Campbell, Susan M; Yancy, Clyde; Peterson, Eric D; Sears, Samuel
    BACKGROUND: Conveying contemporary treatment options for those at risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is challenging. The purpose of the present research was to evaluate the quality and usability of available patient educational tools relevant to SCA and its treatment options, such as implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). We hypothesized that this review would identify gaps in areas of information for the enhancement of patient education and decision-making materials. METHODS: We used a formal instrument to assess specific domains of content, development, and effectiveness of 18 available SCA and ICD educational tools. The multidisciplinary review panel included two electrophysiologists, two general cardiologists, a cardiac psychologist, a health services researcher, and a patient advocate. RESULTS: Of the 18 education tools, four were rated as "good, may need revisions, but sufficient for use", 12 were rated as "marginal, needs revision prior to use", and two were rated as "poor, inadequate for use". None of the tools were rated as being of "very good" or "excellent" quality. CONCLUSION: There appear to be opportunities to improve the quality and completeness of existing educational tools for patients with SCA and ICD. While many tools have been developed, they fall below current standards for supporting informed medical decision-making.
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    Categorical perception in animal communication and decision-making
    (Behavioral Ecology, 2020-01-01) Green, PA; Brandley, NC; Nowicki, S
    The information an animal gathers from its environment, including that associated with signals, often varies continuously. Animals may respond to this continuous variation in a physical stimulus as lying in discrete categories rather than along a continuum, a phenomenon known as categorical perception. Categorical perception was first described in the context of speech and thought to be uniquely associated with human language. Subsequent work has since discovered that categorical perception functions in communication and decision-making across animal taxa, behavioral contexts, and sensory modalities. We begin with an overview of how categorical perception functions in speech perception and, then, describe subsequent work illustrating its role in nonhuman animal communication and decision-making. We synthesize this work to suggest that categorical perception may be favored where there is a benefit to 1) setting consistent behavioral response rules in the face of variation and potential overlap in the physical structure of signals, 2) especially rapid decision-making, or 3) reducing the costs associated with processing and/or comparing signals. We conclude by suggesting other systems in which categorical perception may play a role as a next step toward understanding how this phenomenon may influence our thinking about the function and evolution of animal communication and decision-making.
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    Multifactorial influences underpinning a decision on COVID-19 vaccination among healthcare workers: a qualitative analysis.
    (Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics, 2022-06-10) Yoon, Sungwon; Goh, Hendra; Matchar, David; Sung, Sharon C; Lum, Elaine; Lam, Sean Shao Wei; Low, Jenny Guek Hong; Chua, Terrance; Graves, Nicholas; Ong, Marcus Eh
    COVID-19 vaccination in healthcare workers (HCW) is essential for improved patient safety and resilience of health systems. Despite growing body of literature on the perceptions of COVID vaccines in HCWs, existing studies tend to focus on reasons for 'refusing' the vaccines, using surveys almost exclusively. To gain a more nuanced understanding, we explored multifactorial influences underpinning a decision on vaccination and suggestions for decision support to improve vaccine uptake among HCWs in the early phase of vaccination rollout. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with thirty-three HCWs in Singapore. Transcribed data was thematically analyzed. Decisions to accept vaccines were underpinned by a desire to protect patients primarily driven by a sense of professional integrity, collective responsibility to protect others, confidence in health authorities and a desire to return to a pre-pandemic way of life. However, there were prevailing concerns with respect to the vaccines, including long-term benefits, safety and efficacy, that hampered a decision. Inadequate information and social media representation of vaccination appeared to add to negative beliefs, impeding a decision to accept while low perceived susceptibility played a moderate role in the decision to delay or decline vaccination. Participants made valuable suggestions to bolster vaccination. Our findings support an approach to improving vaccine uptake in HCWs that features routine tracking and transparent updates on vaccination status, use of institutional platforms for sharing of experience, assuring contingency management plans and tailored communications to emphasize the duty of care and positive outlook associated with vaccination.