Multiple Suggested Care Alternatives and Decision-Making of Primary Care Physicians

Does offering multiple appropriate treatment alternatives affect the odds of primary care physicians choosing an alternative over the current care plan?In this randomized clinical trial of 402 primary care physicians, offering 2 or more appropriate alternatives significantly increased the odds that physicians would choose an alternative (62%) compared with those offered only 1 alternative (44%).Contrary to prior studies suggesting status-quo bias, in this trial, presenting multiple appropriate alternatives in decision support alerts increased the odds that physicians would choose an alternative; indicating that presenting multiple alternatives may improve clinical decision-making and reduce unwarranted variation in health care.

Corresponding Author: Gemma Altinger, MBeEcon, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (C39), Missenden Road, King George V Building, Level 10N, Camperdown, New South Wales 2050, Australia (gemma.altinger@sydney.edu.au).

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