Nudge Theory Can Be Used to Optimise Cardiac Surgery Inpatient Management

Abstract

Nudge theory has influenced the behaviour of millions of individuals across the world; however, the potential power of this approach has yet to be fully utilised in the field of inpatient cardiac surgery. The nudge theory also presents multiple nonalert choice architecture modifications that may be employed. Choice architecture is already influencing decisions made in hospitals every day, whether it has been deliberately designed to promote beneficial behaviours or not. Decision making for cardiac surgery inpatients is already subject to inherent choice architectures, which may be amenable to nudges. The types of choices to which nudges may be employed in the inpatient surgical setting are numerous and may be relevant to medical officers, nursing staff, allied health staff, and patients. Through the strategic development and robust evaluation of choice architecture modification, using the principles of the nudge theory, further optimisation of cardiac surgery inpatient management may be achieved.