Communicating Health Barriers and Solutions to Decision Paralysis and Confirmation Bias

Published on: May 19, 2026

Have you ever asked someone what they wanted for dinner? Then you spend the next hour or two discussing all the options? This is known as decision paralysis, the inability to make a choice, which can cause frustration and anxiety for all people involved. Another main issue we have is confirmation bias. When we look up information, we curate the question to get exactly what we want. The technology we use is designed to keep track of patterns and ideas that you find appealing and will curate the answers you seek to match that. Decision paralysis and confirmation bias have only increased with the rise of AI and other learning technologies.

Communication Barriers 

Decision paralysis as it pertains to healthcare or end-of-life care can lead to people not filling out their durable power of attorney, advance care plan, or will. There are so many options when it comes to goals of care and the forms often list them with no explanation. Even the thought of who can be trusted to make medical decisions if the patient is incapacitated can be an overwhelming array of people due to relationship dynamics, perspectives, and feelings of knowledge scope.

Decision paralysis puts added pressure on the system because then medical professionals have to make choices based on science and not the individual. This may be the best practice but would not uphold the autonomy of the individual. It also adds time for the practitioner to walk patients through all the options and due to shortages could impact care of others. Likewise, the practitioner having a preference could influence the patient to accept their preference. Akin to the server saying a certain dish is the best on the menu and you order it because of the expertise of the server.

Confirmation bias is a completely different pain point. When receiving a diagnosis it is the knee jerk reaction to take to the internet. Having so much technology at our fingertips can be wonderful but also a hinderance. At the rise of the internet, millennials and older were taught that you type in a specific question to get an answer. They were also taught to use it as a tool, not just an end all to exploring the problem. When the internet started it was just a closed box that could only answer specifics and not track what you clicked on, who paid for your attention, and which articles you referred back to. This allowed for the human curiosity and referring to other people for guidance and not just relying on the internet for the answer.

Now with all the programing and ease to upload information when you type in the straightforward question, “Will I die from XX diagnosis?” the internet will find all the ways to prove that statement to be true. Then when the patient goes back to their healthcare professional, they are convinced that they will die and even have what they believe to be good data supporting that. This also puts a strain on the system, arguing with patients armed with misinformation or delaying care while the patient seeks alternative care that could be exacerbating the condition.

Ways to Alleviate Barriers 

There are a few ways that we can alleviate these barriers to communication and ultimately care. The biggest reason these barriers should be addressed is to build trust. The medical model has been under intense pressure to not be perceived as a business that cares more about the dollar than the person.

Acknowledgement of what the patient is going through and naming it can be an excellent first step. Many times people do not even realize what behaviors they are exhibiting, which only causes them to sink further into the behavior. Once it is named, a follow up next step could be helpful: “I see you are overwhelmed. Decision paralysis is common with this diagnosis. Here are some reputable resources for you to research and come back to us to discuss,” or “I see you have looked up your diagnosis. Have you looked at this perspective, or here is an expert that would be happy to speak with you.”

Partnerships are going to be paramount to bridge gaps created by decision paralysis and confirmation bias. Having the system partner with community organizations that support medical knowledge and empowerment can allow patients to know who to turn to if they have too many choices or want to discuss the choices they found to check validity. Partnerships can be set up in a multitude of ways, such as a chat line, town halls, referrals, or on-call contracts. These partnerships will help alleviate the pressure on practitioners while also supporting patients. Having an outside partner can add a level of trust with the patient that they will be heard and taken seriously. Also, outside partners relieve burdens (funding stress, coworker dynamics, care team stress, next patient on docket) of the healthcare system. Community partnerships can fill so many needs, such as end-of-life talks, how to use technology to explore your diagnosis, or tips to make medical choices.

Communication is ever evolving with the assistance of technology. Access to so much information is amazing and can advance us as a species at lightning fast speeds. As community practitioners it is our duty to ensure that the health of the information and technology interaction is strong. Seeing the impact of technology informing medical interactions should be top of list of awareness to ensure our healthcare systems support the patients they serve. Community resources are not just for patients but can improve the health of the healthcare system.

 AUTHOR

Odessa Sawyer, MSW, is a full-time Program Coordinator for the Center for Practical Bioethics.