Cognitive Sciences Research
Cognitive science is a multidisciplinary field that borrows theories and methods from computer science, cognitive psychology, linguistics, philosophy and cognitive anthropology. Research in medical cognition is devoted to the study of medical decision-making, cognitive foundations of health behaviors and the effective use of computer-based information technologies. The research has particular focus on the analysis of medical error, models of naturalistic problem solving and decision-making, development and use of clinical guidelines and evaluation of human-computer interactions. The research is guided by a concern for improving performance of individuals and teams in the healthcare system. Toward this end, the focus will be on the cognitive characteristics involved in learning, instruction and in the design of decision-support and other health information technologies for safe use in clinical environments.
Cognitive Complexity and Error in Critical Care
The complex nature of health care work has been proposed as a primary barrier to the implementation of effective safety measures. Conventional approaches to error are poorly suited to this complexity. Within the culture of medicine, the traditional approach to error involves assigning blame to a single individual. This attitude towards error is exemplified by the litigious climate and medical malpractice claims in the United States today. However, the framework of individual accountability is poorly suited to address the problem of medical error, as it fails to address the complexity of the system within which medical error occurs. Medical error is only rarely the result of the actions of a single person, and several leading error researchers have raised the importance of systemic causes of medical error. Human error will always be a factor, but recurring systemic weaknesses are amenable to intervention and correction. A productive approach to error reduction and management requires a contextual understanding of how errors tend to occur.
Researchers: Vimla L. Patel, Trevor Cohen, Kanav Kahol
Collaborators: Marshall Smith, Banner Health; John Ferrara, Banner Health; Jiajie Zhang, University of Texas-Houston; Timothy Buchman, Washington University, St. Louis
For more information: http://cognitive.asu.edu/research/cognitive.php
Bioscience Research Integration Software Platform
The proposed study will involve study of scientific practices and productivity in two labs at Hopkins, followed by implementation of a prototype software platform developed initially at Hopkins and now licensed and under development by BioFortis Inc.
Researcher: Vimla L. Patel
Collaborators: Mikael Lindval; Jian Wang; Steven Bova, Johns Hopkins University
For more information: http://cognitive.asu.edu/research/bioscience.php
Usability Evaluation of AHLTA
Human-centered methods and techniques specifically developed for healthcare domains are necessary for the successful development of EHR (electronic health record) systems that increase efficiency, productivity, ease of use, ease of learning, user adoption, retention, and satisfaction, and decrease medical errors, development time and cost, and support and training cost. The objective of our project is to apply UFuRT (User, Functional, Representational, and Task Analyses) to the design and evaluation of the AHLTA EHR used by the military.
Researcher: Vimla L. Patel
Collaborators: Jiajie Zhang, University of Texas-Houston
For more information: http://cognitive.asu.edu/research/usability.php
Image Mining for Comparative Analysis of Expression Patterns in Tissue Micro-Arrays
The central objective of this proposal is to design, develop, deploy and evaluate a content-based image retrieval system for performing quick, reliable comparative analysis of expression patterns in cancer tissue microarrays.
Researcher: Vimla L. Patel
Collaborator: David Foran, UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
For more information: http://cognitive.asu.edu/research/image.php
Cognition and Error Management in Critical Care
The core objective of this research is to develop a cognitive framework of medical errors in critical care environments (medicine, surgery and psychiatry), where decisions are often made under high stress, time pressure, and with incomplete information.
Researcher: Vimla L. Patel
Collaborator: Jiajie Zhang, University of Texas-Houston
For more information: http://cognitive.asu.edu/research/cognition.php
Cognitive Aspects of Mental Disorder Diagnosis and Treatment in Primary Care
Depression and anxiety disorders are highly prevalent and often profoundly impairing. In low-income communities, primary care physicians are often the only source of care for these disorders, yet primary care physicians often under-diagnose and ineffectively manage them. Moreover, little is known about primary care physicians' decision-making processes for mental disorders. This is a new and important focus for services research, driven by the overarching goal of finding more effective ways to deliver psychiatric care in primary care.
Researcher: Vimla L. Patel
For more information: http://cognitive.asu.edu/research/mentalhealth.php