Clinical Decision Making in Athletic Training

Abstract

Athletic trainers frequently make decisions under uncertain conditions leading to the use of decisional shortcuts (heuristics). Heuristics can be useful decisional tools, but their use gives rise to predictable cognitive errors (cognitive bias), which can lead to diagnostic and injury management errors. This study assessed athletic trainers’ understanding of these topics and explored their presence in athletic training education. Few participants were taught about heuristics (11.6%) and cognitive bias (24.1%), although those taught about heuristics demonstrated greater understanding of both topics. To improve clinical efficacy and patient outcomes, athletic trainers should seek educational opportunities related to heuristics and cognitive bias.