Leadership, decision-making and errors: cultural factors

Abstract

As clinicians, we are used to making often fast and life-altering decisions. As professionals, the clinical decisions we make depend upon our training, knowledge base, supervision, expertise and experience. Sociodemographic factors such as age, gender, ethnicity and cultural background can also influence our views. However, rarely do we step back to think about the mental processes behind our decision-making. In cognitive–behavioural therapy and in our general dealings with patients, we aim to help them identify their cognitive schema and attribution errors as a way forward; but we rarely reflect on our own cognitive schema and possible misattribution in making decisions. Both patients and healthcare professionals are affected by cultural norms, mores and expectations.