Changing attitudes to 'the change'

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dc.contributor.authorAllen, K.
dc.contributor.authorMansfield, P.
dc.date.issued2004
dc.descriptionCopyright © 2004 Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
dc.description.abstractBACKGROUND In order to practise efficiently, experienced doctors use heuristics (decision making shortcuts). In most cases decision making shortcuts improve the service we offer, allowing us to make appropriate decisions more quickly. However, occasionally shortcuts can mislead. It is important to reflect on the shortcuts we use so as to reduce the risk of mistakes. OBJECTIVE This article examines the potential pitfalls of decision making shortcuts using hormone therapy (HT) in menopause as an example. DISCUSSION Recent randomised controlled trials have changed the thinking on the risk-benefit ratio for HT. The previously assumed long term health benefits of HT for women during and beyond menopause resulted from shortcuts in decision making including ‘association means causation’ (observational data), ‘experts know best’ (the experience of gynaecologists seeing women with severe menopausal symptoms is applied to all women) and ‘a biological theory to explain a phenomenon makes it likely to be true’ (oestrogen has a positive effect on lipid profiles and so was assumed to be cardioprotective).
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityKatrina Allen, Peter Mansfield
dc.identifier.citationAustralian Family Physician, 2004; 33(11):939-940
dc.identifier.issn0300-8495
dc.identifier.orcidMansfield, P. [0009-0006-6697-8687]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/48034
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherRoyal Australian College of General Practitioners
dc.source.urihttp://www.racgp.org.au/afp/200411/14305
dc.subjectHumans
dc.subjectHormone Replacement Therapy
dc.subjectAttitude of Health Personnel
dc.subjectDecision Making
dc.subjectFamily Practice
dc.subjectMenopause
dc.subjectMiddle Aged
dc.subjectAustralia
dc.subjectFemale
dc.titleChanging attitudes to 'the change'
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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