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patient safety
paramedic
professional
ethics
decision-making
assessment

Human factors, cognitive bias and the paramedic

02 January 2019
Features
02 January 2019
Volume 11 · Issue 1

Abstract

The consequences of human factors and cognitive bias can be catastrophic if unrecognised. Errors can lead to loss of life because of the flawed nature of human cognition and the way we interact with our environment. Seemingly small mistakes or miscommunications can lead to negative outcomes for patients and clinicians alike. It is easy to see therefore why the College of Paramedics now recommends the teaching of human factors at higher education institutions. Using a problem-based approach, this article aims to inform prehospital clinicians about how human factors and cognitive bias can affect them and their practice, and how these can be mitigated.

Human factors include organisational and environmental factors, job-specific issues and the effects of individual characteristics on interaction and communication (MacDonald, 2016). In the case of human factors in health care, this generally means the way clinicians interact with their work environment, interprofessional communication and communication between clinicians and patients. Perhaps more importantly, it also refers to how we mentally interpret these interactions and how we make decisions based upon them. The importance of these factors and their link to avoidable harm and death is being increasingly recognised within health care (Brindley, 2010; Haerkens et al, 2015). The College of Paramedics (CoP) (2015) has recognised this and now recommends the teaching of human factors to new clinicians within their curriculum guidance. This doesn't, however, reach the staff that are already working in clinical practice.

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Human factors
Paramedic practice
Situational awareness