Expert decision-making in clinicians: An auto-analytic ethnographic study of operational decision-making in urgent care.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To conceptualise the cognitive processes of early expert decision-making in urgent care.

Background

Expert clinicians in the UK frequently determine suitable urgent care patient pathways via telephone triage. This strategy is promoted by policymakers but how it is performed, and its effectiveness has not been evaluated. Evaluation of early senior decision-making requires knowledge of decision-processes, influences, and goals. Previous research has focused on diagnostic decision-making and rarely studied clinicians in the field.

Method

We triangulated analytic autoethnography of early expert decision-making with focused ethnography of experts and trainee doctors performing the task. The study took place in a medium-sized Acute Medical Unit which provided inte

SUBMITTER: Irvine N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11753633 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature