Comparing cognitive load levels among family members of the critically ill exposed to electronic decision aids.
Grant A Pignatiello, Barbara Daly, Heath Demaree and 2 others
PMID 31519496WHAT IT FOUND
Surrogate decision-makers using an interactive avatar-based tool reported significantly higher extraneous cognitive load than those watching a passive video.
Older age was linked to higher load for both intrinsic and extraneous domains. The interactive tool may overwhelm users.
Key findings
01The interactive avatar-based decision aid (INVOLVE) resulted in significantly higher extraneous cognitive load compared to the video-based aid (IS).
02There was no significant difference in intrinsic cognitive load between the two groups after controlling for age.
03Age was a significant determinant of both intrinsic and extraneous cognitive load.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Cognitive load was measured only once, immediately after the intervention, rather than at multiple points. The study did not control for confounders like comfort with technology or education level. The sample was predominantly White women, limiting generalizability. The study measured subjective cognitive load, not actual decision quality or patient outcomes.
Declared interests
The study was supported by NIH, NINR R01NR017570. No other conflicts of interest were declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the interactive tool is inferior for all users. The higher extraneous load was a subjective measure of effort, not a failure of the tool to convey information. The study did not show that the passive video led to better decisions or outcomes.