Abstract
BackgroundNumerical anchoring occurs when exposure to a numeric quantity influences a person’s subsequent judgment involving other quantities. This could be applicable to the evaluation of pain, where exposure to an unrelated number before the evaluation of pain could influence pain ratings.ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine whether exposure to a random numeric anchor influences subsequent pain intensity ratings of a hypothetical patient.MethodsIn this study, 385 participants read a vignette describing a patient with chronic pain before being randomly assigned to one of four groups. Groups 1 and 2 spun an 11-wedge number wheel (0-10), which was, unbeknown to the participants, programmed to stop on a high number (8) or a low number (2), respectively. Group 3 spun a similar letter wheel (A-K), which was programmed to stop on either the letter C or I (control 1). Group 4 did not spin a wheel (control 2). Participants were then asked to rate the patient’s pain intensity using a 0 to 10 numeric rating scale.ResultsThe high-number group rated the patient’s pain (median 8, IQR 2) significantly higher than the letter wheel control (median 7, IQR 2; P=.02) and the low-number group (median 6, IQR 2; P<.001). The low-number group rated the pain significantly lower than controls 1 and 2 (median 7, IQR 2; both P=.045).ConclusionsPain ratings were influenced by prior exposure to a random number with no relevant information about the patient’s pain, indicating anchoring had occurred. However, contrary to the traditional definition of anchoring where anchoring occurs even when participants are unaware of the anchor’s influence, in this study, the anchoring effect was seen only in participants who believed that the anchor had influenced them. This suggests that anchoring effects could potentially occur among health care providers tasked with evaluating a patient’s pain and should be evaluated further.
Highlights
Health care providers are often required to assess and treat pain; it is recognized that health care provider ratings of a patient’s pain intensity may be biased and inaccurate [1]
Pain ratings were influenced by prior exposure to a random number with no relevant information about the patient’s pain, indicating anchoring had occurred
Contrary to the traditional definition of anchoring where anchoring occurs even when participants are unaware of the anchor’s influence, in this study, the anchoring effect was seen only in participants who believed that the anchor had influenced them
Summary
Background Health care providers are often required to assess and treat pain; it is recognized that health care provider ratings of a patient’s pain intensity may be biased and inaccurate [1]. Examples of factors that have been shown to be associated with biased provider ratings include past work experience [2], physician gender [3], and availability of medical evidence [4] In these circumstances, provider ratings often do not align with patient ratings and instead tend to overor under-estimate the patient’s self-report [2,4,5]. One rarely studied situational factor that appears to contribute to biased health care provider ratings of a patient’s pain intensity has been termed numerical anchoring. Numerical anchoring occurs when exposure to a numeric quantity influences a person’s subsequent judgment involving other quantities This could be applicable to the evaluation of pain, where exposure to an unrelated number before the evaluation of pain could influence pain ratings
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
