RESPONSES TO CLINICAL CONSULTATION (SOURCE CREDIBILITY, NURSING, DECISION MAKING).
Contributors: University of Washington.
Published: 1986
Number of pages: 238
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: This study investigated the effect of consultant credibility on consultees' (nurses) decisions and the nurses' use of the heuristics of availability (familiarity) and representativeness (typicality) of the patient problem and consultant in the decision process.

Using an experimental design, 72 randomly assigned staff nurses were given two scenarios of clinical consultation and responded on 7-point semantic differential scales. The scenarios contained a consultation setting, patient situation, four recommendations, and a description of the consultant. The consultant's characteristics of occupational title and experience were independently manipulated between subjects in a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement.

The findings from this study suggested that the nurses' use of heuristics as well as their knowledge and experience mediated decision responses. The nurses used the content of recommendations rather than the noncontent cues of a consultant's credibility for decisions. Results of ANOVA procedures showed a significant (p < .001) effect of recommendations on decisions. The consultant's characteristics showed no significant effect on nurses' perceived credibility of consultants or decisions.

Nurses' perceived credibility of the consultants, recommendations and judgment of outcomes of recommendations were associated with decision choices. Familiarity and typicality of consultants showed positive relationships with nurses' perceived credibility of consultants and decision choices.

Decisions to accept consultants' recommendations for care were positively correlated with the nurses' perception of the importance attributed to the content and/or outcomes of recommendations. Decisions to reject consultant's recommendations for care were positively correlated with the nurses' perception of the importance attributed to consultant's background. A nurse's education was associated with decision choices and their type of work setting was associated with decision certainty. Decision certainty positively correlated with nurses' perceived importance of their knowledge/experience and familiarity with patient problems.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 47-04, Section: B, page: 1490.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, 1986.

School code: 0250.