Lecture 1: Risk and decision-making

Risk?

In this step, you will learn the concepts of risk and recognize the theoretical framework of decision-making under risk.

There is always uncertainty in the outcome of treatment. So all the medical decisions are ‘at-risk’ decisions. However, ‘risk’ does not mean an unwanted side effect, but highlights such uncertainty.

Another reason why patient-dentist communication is difficult is people tend to avoid loss, even the loss can be balanced.

We aren’t like a computer, which can analyze all the gains and losses from an option, and try to figure out the best way to balance them all. So patients’ decisions may be strongly influenced by the dark side, such as the cost of the treatment and the bad experience they had while they were kids.

Hence, what can we do to help ourselves when we need to make a medical decision? And what would we expect our dentists to do to help us make a fair desicion? And being a dentist, what will you do to provide a better view for your patients?

We would like to learn more from you.