Cognitive biases and contextual factors explaining variability in nurses’ fall risk judgements: a multi-centre cross-sectional study
Background: Assessing fall risk is a complex process requiring the integration of diverse information and cognitive strategies. Despite this complexity, few studies have explored how nurses make these judgements. Moreover, existing research suggests variability in nurses’ fall risk assessments, but...
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666142X25000633 |
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| author | Miyuki Takase Naomi Kisanuki Yoko Sato Kazue Mitsunaka Masako Yamamoto |
| author_facet | Miyuki Takase Naomi Kisanuki Yoko Sato Kazue Mitsunaka Masako Yamamoto |
| author_sort | Miyuki Takase |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Assessing fall risk is a complex process requiring the integration of diverse information and cognitive strategies. Despite this complexity, few studies have explored how nurses make these judgements. Moreover, existing research suggests variability in nurses’ fall risk assessments, but the reasons for this variation and its appropriateness remain unclear. Objective: This study aimed to investigate how nurses judge fall risk, and how cognitive biases and contextual factors are associated with their judgements. Methods: Using purposive sampling, 335 nurses from six hospitals in western Japan participated in an online survey. The participants rated the likelihood of falls in 18 patient scenarios and completed measures of cognitive bias such as base-rate neglect, belief bias, and availability bias. A linear mixed-effects regression tree was used to identify factors related to their judgements, and a linear mixed-effects regression model examined associations between judgement variability, cognitive biases, and clinical speciality. Results: Nurses’ fall risk assessments were primarily determined by whether patients called for assistance, followed by the use of sleeping pills, the presence of a tube or drain, and patient mobility status. Judgement variability was linked to nurses’ gender, education, clinical context/speciality, and susceptibility to availability bias. Conclusion: Variability in clinical judgement may be justified when reflecting personalised, context-specific care. However, inconsistencies arising from cognitive biases are problematic. Healthcare organisations should offer targeted training to enhance contextual expertise and reduce the influence of cognitive biases on fall risk assessments. Study registration: Not registered. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eefd8e0ce31d4a7290f143bea4eccd2f |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2666-142X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances |
| spelling | doaj-art-eefd8e0ce31d4a7290f143bea4eccd2f2025-08-20T02:05:20ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Nursing Studies Advances2666-142X2025-06-01810035610.1016/j.ijnsa.2025.100356Cognitive biases and contextual factors explaining variability in nurses’ fall risk judgements: a multi-centre cross-sectional studyMiyuki Takase0Naomi Kisanuki1Yoko Sato2Kazue Mitsunaka3Masako Yamamoto4Yasuda Women’s University, School of Nursing, 6-13-1 Yasuhigashi, Asaminami-Ku, Hiroshima-Shi, Hiroshima 7310153, Japan; Corresponding author at: Yasuda Women’s University, School of Nursing, 6-13-1 Yasuhigashi, Asaminami-Ku, Hiroshima-Shi, Hiroshima 7310153, Japan.Yasuda Women’s University, School of Nursing, 6-13-1 Yasuhigashi, Asaminami-Ku, Hiroshima-Shi, Hiroshima 7310153, JapanHiroshima University Hospital, Department of Nursing, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-Ku, Hiroshima-Shi, Hiroshima 7340037, JapanHiroshima University Hospital, Department of Nursing, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-Ku, Hiroshima-Shi, Hiroshima 7340037, JapanYasuda Women’s University, School of Nursing, 6-13-1 Yasuhigashi, Asaminami-Ku, Hiroshima-Shi, Hiroshima 7310153, JapanBackground: Assessing fall risk is a complex process requiring the integration of diverse information and cognitive strategies. Despite this complexity, few studies have explored how nurses make these judgements. Moreover, existing research suggests variability in nurses’ fall risk assessments, but the reasons for this variation and its appropriateness remain unclear. Objective: This study aimed to investigate how nurses judge fall risk, and how cognitive biases and contextual factors are associated with their judgements. Methods: Using purposive sampling, 335 nurses from six hospitals in western Japan participated in an online survey. The participants rated the likelihood of falls in 18 patient scenarios and completed measures of cognitive bias such as base-rate neglect, belief bias, and availability bias. A linear mixed-effects regression tree was used to identify factors related to their judgements, and a linear mixed-effects regression model examined associations between judgement variability, cognitive biases, and clinical speciality. Results: Nurses’ fall risk assessments were primarily determined by whether patients called for assistance, followed by the use of sleeping pills, the presence of a tube or drain, and patient mobility status. Judgement variability was linked to nurses’ gender, education, clinical context/speciality, and susceptibility to availability bias. Conclusion: Variability in clinical judgement may be justified when reflecting personalised, context-specific care. However, inconsistencies arising from cognitive biases are problematic. Healthcare organisations should offer targeted training to enhance contextual expertise and reduce the influence of cognitive biases on fall risk assessments. Study registration: Not registered.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666142X25000633NursesFallsRisksJudgementCognitive biasClinical speciality |
| spellingShingle | Miyuki Takase Naomi Kisanuki Yoko Sato Kazue Mitsunaka Masako Yamamoto Cognitive biases and contextual factors explaining variability in nurses’ fall risk judgements: a multi-centre cross-sectional study International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances Nurses Falls Risks Judgement Cognitive bias Clinical speciality |
| title | Cognitive biases and contextual factors explaining variability in nurses’ fall risk judgements: a multi-centre cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Cognitive biases and contextual factors explaining variability in nurses’ fall risk judgements: a multi-centre cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Cognitive biases and contextual factors explaining variability in nurses’ fall risk judgements: a multi-centre cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cognitive biases and contextual factors explaining variability in nurses’ fall risk judgements: a multi-centre cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Cognitive biases and contextual factors explaining variability in nurses’ fall risk judgements: a multi-centre cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | cognitive biases and contextual factors explaining variability in nurses fall risk judgements a multi centre cross sectional study |
| topic | Nurses Falls Risks Judgement Cognitive bias Clinical speciality |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666142X25000633 |
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