Application of Naturalistic Decision Making to Studying and Supporting Patient Work

Abstract

In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the active role of patients in healthcare, highlighting the need to support patient work by designing systems, processes, and communications that are patient-centered. Patients are called upon to make consequential decisions based on complex cognitive and perceptual cues. Some patients may even possess deep knowledge about their condition and its management. However, there is little research applying naturalistic decision making (NDM) to study patient cognition and decision making. This application may have the potential to help understand and support patients to more effectively manage their health, wellness, and safety. In this panel, we address the relevance and applicability of NDM in terms of theory, terminology, and methods to the design of patient-centered solutions.