Improving Decision-Making Under Pressure: A Study of Crisis Management

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Mehdi Tahmasebi

Abstract

Effective decision-making under pressure is critical in pre-hospital emergency care, where EMTs and paramedics must respond to life-threatening situations with limited time and resources. This study investigates the factors influencing decision-making performance in high-pressure environments, focusing on experience, stress, cognitive workload, and the role of decision-support technologies. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected through simulations, surveys (NASA-TLX), interviews, and case studies with 100 emergency medical professionals. The results reveal that experience significantly improves decision accuracy and speed, while high levels of stress and cognitive overload impair decision-making performance. Decision-support systems (DSS) were shown to mitigate cognitive workload, enhancing decision accuracy even among experienced personnel. The study also found that fatigue exacerbates the negative effects of stress on decision-making. These findings highlight the need for stress management training, fatigue mitigation strategies, and the integration of advanced decision-support technologies in emergency medical services. Recommendations for policy modifications and future research, particularly in AI-driven decision-support, are provided to further improve crisis management in healthcare settings.

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