Abstract
Attentional bias is believing there is a relationship between two variables when instances are found of both being present. More attention is paid to this condition than when either variable is absent from the other. So, if A and B are present we immediately think the diagnosis must be C, perhaps to the exclusion of other possibilities. But if we only see A or B we may forget to think of the C diagnosis. We often think of diagnostic decision making as considering the compilation of risk factors, symptoms, and signs. In many instances, this is indeed the case. But sometimes, a sole symptom or sign may be present which alone can lead us to the correct diagnosis. Not everyone has to have every “thing”. Likewise, just because two symptoms are together does not always mean that the diagnosis is certain.
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Wills, P. (2021). Attentional Bias. In: Raz, M., Pouryahya, P. (eds) Decision Making in Emergency Medicine. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0143-9_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0143-9_6
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