79 is the new 70: Left digit bias in craniotomy.
Elderly craniotomy
Left digit bias
Trauma
Traumatic brain injury
Journal
American journal of surgery
ISSN: 1879-1883
Titre abrégé: Am J Surg
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 0370473
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
12 2022
12 2022
Historique:
received:
25
03
2022
revised:
31
08
2022
accepted:
05
10
2022
pubmed:
26
10
2022
medline:
15
12
2022
entrez:
25
10
2022
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Left digit bias is the psychological phenomenon in which the difference between values is perceived as larger due to the value of the first digit. For example, an 80 year old may be perceived as much older than a 79 year old. We sought to determine if left digit bias is present in craniotomy for elderly patients with traumatic brain injury. Patients aged 69, 70, 79, and 80 with traumatic brain injury and an abbreviated injury scale severity of a minimum of 3 were included from the National Trauma Data Bank from the years 2012-2019. 38,908 patients were included. A Chi-squared Test was performed to compare the percentage of patients undergoing craniotomy. 79 year olds had higher craniotomy rates than 80 year olds (7.8% vs 6.4%, P < 0.001). There was no difference in craniotomy rates between 69 and 70 year olds (8.2% vs 7.8%, P < 0.2622). This study suggests the presence of left digit bias in the decision to perform a craniotomy in patients aged 79 vs 80 with traumatic brain injury.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Left digit bias is the psychological phenomenon in which the difference between values is perceived as larger due to the value of the first digit. For example, an 80 year old may be perceived as much older than a 79 year old. We sought to determine if left digit bias is present in craniotomy for elderly patients with traumatic brain injury.
METHODS
Patients aged 69, 70, 79, and 80 with traumatic brain injury and an abbreviated injury scale severity of a minimum of 3 were included from the National Trauma Data Bank from the years 2012-2019. 38,908 patients were included. A Chi-squared Test was performed to compare the percentage of patients undergoing craniotomy.
RESULTS
79 year olds had higher craniotomy rates than 80 year olds (7.8% vs 6.4%, P < 0.001). There was no difference in craniotomy rates between 69 and 70 year olds (8.2% vs 7.8%, P < 0.2622).
CONCLUSION
This study suggests the presence of left digit bias in the decision to perform a craniotomy in patients aged 79 vs 80 with traumatic brain injury.
Identifiants
pubmed: 36283882
pii: S0002-9610(22)00638-9
doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2022.10.008
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
1442-1444Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts of interest.