Most Physicians Sit Down at the Bedside When Entering a Patient’s Room

Nudge

I just finished listening to Nudge, by Thaler and Sunstein, and I was struck by how many strategies from their book are relevant to helping patients make healthy behavioral changes.

This book highlights principles of behavioral economics and shares many examples of how small things can dramatically influence, or nudge, behavior. Nudge endorses the concept of libertarian paternalism, described as the idea that it is legitimate to try to affect the behavior of others (in ways that make individuals better off), so long as freedom of choice is respected.

Physicians spend a lot of time counseling patients about myriad topics, including being compliant with medications, exercising regularly, eating healthily, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, and so many other behavioral changes that have been unequivocally proven to have health benefits. We all do differently, and almost all of the time, we receive no feedback about whether our messaging had any impact whatsoever.

Nudge presents many principles that have been shown to be persuasive with respect to influencing decision-making. A few examples are shared below:

Choice architecture 

There are few truly neutral designs and many people are content to accept whatever the default setting or the original set up (such as the web browser that is the default on a computer).

For example, states that have an organ donation ‘opt out’ tick box on their driver’s license application forms have significantly higher percentages of organ donors than states where the box is to be checked for ‘opting in’.

Framing

The ways in which an issue is contextualized can dramatically influence choices.

Apparently, if a doctor informs a patient that “97% of patients having operation X will survive,” more will opt to go forward with the surgery compared with those presented with the same information described alternatively, “3% of patients having operation X will die on the table.”

Herd behavior

Humans generally like to conform and thus can be influenced by what others are doing.

Because of this, I titled this piece, “Most physicians sit down at the bedside when entering a patient’s room”; I actually have a hunch that this may not be true but I’m hoping that those who do not read these comments will succumb to social influence and begin sitting down when visiting hospitalized patients.

As it relates to counseling patients, I will sometimes inform a patient after collecting details about their diet, “You’re eating more red meat than most of my other patients.” Some have told me at follow-up visits that this information nudged them to start eating more fish and chicken.

Feedback

Precise and timely feedback helps to nudge behaviors in the desirable direction.

Examples from the book include the unpleasant side effects that disulfiram causes when alcohol is consumed (in the treatment of alcoholism), and how “SUPERNAILS Bite No More” can effectively break this compulsive habit. Evidence suggests that physicians that marry feedback with their patient education and counseling may see be better results.

Are there practices that you use to nudge patients delicately and thoughtfully towards healthier behaviors? Please share them on our social media, we’d love to hear from you.

Are there are nonmedical books that you’ve read that have relevance to excellence in patient care? Please share your recommendation with us–we may ask you to help us with a book review for CLOSLER.

Finally, all content on CLOSLER hopes to have you reflect about clinical excellence, nudging us all to take care of our patients as best as we possibly can.