Clinical decision-making theories

Abstract

Clinical decision-making is a cornerstone of healthcare, influencing patient diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care. This article explores the multifaceted nature of clinical decision-making, emphasizing its significance, challenges, and implications for modern healthcare. It delves into three primary decision-making theories: the rationalist approach, which prioritizes evidence-based decision-making; the phenomenological approach, focusing on intuition and experience; and the hypothetic-deductive approach, which seeks a balance between the previous two. These theories, while offering valuable perspectives, must be applied with consideration of the complex factors that influence decision-making, including competence, confidence, organizational support, and the clinical environment. Ultimately, clinical decision-making is both an art and a science, demanding a nuanced understanding to ensure patient-centered care and improved healthcare outcomes.