Cited by 160Decision-Making and Behavioral EconomicsHealth Sciences Research and EducationHealth Policy Implementation Science

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 119 of the 122 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 11 of the 163 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

Rationality versus reality: the challenges of evidence-based decision making for health policy makers

Open access
McCaughey, Deirdre, Bruning, Nealia S·2010·Implementation Science

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Current healthcare systems have extended the evidence-based medicine (EBM) approach to health policy and delivery decisions, such as access-to-care, healthcare funding and health program continuance, through attempts to integrate valid and reliable evidence into the decision making process. These policy decisions have major impacts on society and have high personal and financial costs associated with those decisions. Decision models such as these function under a shared assumption of rational choice and utility maximization in the decision-making process. DISCUSSION: We contend that health policy decision makers are generally unable to attain the basic goals of evidence-based decision making (EBDM) and evidence-based policy making (EBPM) because humans make decisions with their naturally limited, faulty, and biased decision-making processes. A cognitive information processing framework is presented to support this argument, and subtle cognitive processing mechanisms are introduced to support the focal thesis: health policy makers' decisions are influenced by the subjective manner in which they individually process decision-relevant information rather than on the objective merits of the evidence alone. As such, subsequent health policy decisions do not necessarily achieve the goals of evidence-based policy making, such as maximizing health outcomes for society based on valid and reliable research evidence. SUMMARY: In this era of increasing adoption of evidence-based healthcare models, the rational choice, utility maximizing assumptions in EBDM and EBPM, must be critically evaluated to ensure effective and high-quality health policy decisions. The cognitive information processing framework presented here will aid health policy decision makers by identifying how their decisions might be subtly influenced by non-rational factors. In this paper, we identify some of the biases and potential intervention points and provide some initial suggestions about how the EBDM/EBPM process can be improved.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This conceptual paper argues that evidence-based decision making (EBDM) and evidence-based policy making (EBPM) rest on rational-choice assumptions that are undermined by limited, biased cognitive information processing. It presents a cognitive framework in which decision maker utility, affect, and heuristics subtly shape how health policy makers interpret and use evidence.

Key findings

  • The paper argues that health policy makers generally cannot meet EBDM/EBPM’s rational goals because decision making is influenced by subjective cognitive processing rather than objective evidence alone; bounded rationality and “satisficing” lead decision makers to choose alternatives that meet minimum criteria rather than optimize.
  • It identifies three major cognitively generated influences on evidence processing: decision maker utility, affect, and heuristics (availability, representativeness, and anchoring and adjustment).
  • It offers propositions: policy decisions may reflect individual rather than societal utility and are more likely supported when linked to decision makers’ experience (1a, 1b); trait affect influences risk tolerance and uncertainty in supporting policies (2); and policy makers facing difficult information will use available relevant heuristics to support a policy (3).
  • As context, the paper reports 2008 US national health expenditures of $2.3 trillion, or $7,681 per person, accounting for 16.2% of GDP, projected to reach 19.3% of GDP by 2019, approximately $4.5 trillion.

Methods

  • Design: conceptual/theoretical paper, not an empirical study; it synthesizes decision-making and policy literature and presents a cognitive information processing framework based on Wyer and Srull.
  • Data or sample: no empirical data, sample, or formal analysis are reported.
  • Main analysis: narrative development of a framework and propositions linking utility, affect, and heuristics to health policy decision making, followed by suggested improvements for EBDM/EBPM.

Limitations

  • Stated: the paper notes that empirical studies could be designed to test the degree to which these issues impact health policy decisions, indicating its propositions are not empirically tested; it also states that group decision making is outside the focus of the paper.
  • Evident: there is no formal limitations section, no empirical sample, and no tested outcomes; the framework is conceptual and its proposed relationships remain untested in the paper itself.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1186/1748-5908-5-39

Cites

119 of 119 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Figures

Figure 1 Evidence-Based Rational Choice Decision Model.
Figure 1 Evidence-Based Rational Choice Decision Model.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 2 Cognitive Processing Model (Deliberative Stage Only).
Figure 2 Cognitive Processing Model (Deliberative Stage Only).CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 3 The Cognitive Information Processing Framework for Health Policy Decision Making.
Figure 3 The Cognitive Information Processing Framework for Health Policy Decision Making.CC BY · PubMed Central

Verification

Claims the paper makes

40 Own interpretation · 29 Not checked yet · 10 No full text of the sources · 6 Partly supported · 2 Supported so far · 2 Sources not found · 1 No basis given · accuracy not yet measured

Verify all 55 references — free account

Show all 54 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 18
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 21
36 of 36
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The Wyer and Srull social information processing model is applicable to health policy decision makers.

    “Wyer and Srull [10] have proposed one of most recognized information processing models, which will be used here to provide the structure for the basic cognitive information processing discussion (Figure 2).”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Health policy decision makers process decision-relevant information in the same cognitive manner as individuals in the general decision-making literature.

    “Utilizing health policy decision making as a basis, this article presents a theoretical decision-processing framework that supports the focal thesis: during the health policy process, decision makers are subjectively influenced by the manner in which they cognitively process information.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Most nations' health system challenges are complex.

    “Given the complexity of most nations' health system challenges, cognitive shortcutting by policy makers is to be expected.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Individual goals play a role in how information is processed.

    “Given consideration of the complexity of cognitive information processing and the role of individual goals in how information is being processed, it is not surprising that health policy makers would readily adopt cognitive processes that simplify decisions.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Policy making does not occur in isolation.

    “Given that policy making does not occur in isolation, it is important to identify the components of the network that are relevant and require consideration”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Healthcare is a multi-sector industry that draws health services researchers from a wide variety of health and social science disciplines.

    “As healthcare is a multi-sector industry, it draws health services researchers from a wide variety of health and social science disciplines (e.g., management, economics, political science, sociology, nursing).”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Decision-making processes within groups often involve either a process of inquiry or a process of advocacy.

    “Decision-making processes within groups often involve either a process of inquiry (collaborative problem solving) or a process of advocacy (a function of persuasion and opinion influencing).”
7 of 7

Citations

Cites

Research works printed but not linked: 6

  1. Flemming K, Fenton M: Making Sense of Research Evidence to Inform Decision-Making. Clinical Decision-Making and Judgment in Nursing. Edited by: Thompson C, Dowding D. 2002, Toronto: Harcourt Publishers, 110-129.
  2. Murnighan JK, Mowen JC: The Art of High-Stakes Decision Making. 2002, New York: John Wiley and Sons
  3. Howlett M, Ramesh M: Studying Public Policy: Policy Choices and Policy Subsystems. 2003, Don Mills: Oxford University Press
  4. Haddow R: Interest Representation and the Canadian State. Canadian Politics. Edited by: Bickerton J, Gagnon A. 1999, Peterborough: Broadview Press, 501-522.
  5. Johnson-Laird PN, Oatley K: Cognitive and Social Construction in Emotions. Handbook of Emotions. Edited by: Lewis M, Haviland-Jones JM. 2000, New York: The Guilford Press, 458-475. 2
  6. Kourany JA: The Validation of Scientific Knowledge. Scientific Knowledge: Basic Issues in the Philosophy of Science. Edited by: Kourany JA. 1998, Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 153-163. 2

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Metadata

Authors
McCaughey, D., & Bruning, N. S.
Affiliations
  • Pennsylvania State University (US)
  • University of Manitoba (CA)
Corresponding author
McCaughey, Deirdre
Venue
Implementation Science
Published
2010-05-26
Volume
5
Issue
1
Pages
39-39
ISSN
1748-5908 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2022170372
Cited by
160
References
122
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 73 · 2012: 8
FWCI
18.71
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Implementation Science (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Mspace (University of Manitoba) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Sciences Research and Education
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Policy Implementation Science
Keywords
evidence-based decision making, evidence-based policy making, health policy decision-making, cognitive biases, bounded rationality, cognitive information processing, decision-making, health policy makers, health care financing, health care access

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