Decision-making in the ICU: An analysis of the ICU admission decision-making process using a '20 Questions' approach.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Deciding to admit a patient into the intensive care unit (ICU) is a high-stakes, high-stress, time-sensitive process. Elucidating the complexities of these decisions can contribute to a more efficient, effective process.

Objectives

To explore physicians' strategic thought processes in ICU triage decisions and identify important factors.

Methods

Practitioners (N=29) were asked to decide on ICU referrals of two hypothetic cases using a modified '20 Questions' approach. Demographic data, decisions when full information was available, feedback on questions, rating of factors previously identified as important and influence of faith and personality traits were explored.

Results

Of the 735 questions asked, 95.92% were patient related. There were no signifi

SUBMITTER: Gopalan PD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10241076 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature