Is CO2 an indoor pollutant? Direct effects of low-to-moderate CO2 concentrations on human decision-making performance.

Background: Associations of higher indoor carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations with impaired work performance, increased health symptoms, and poorer perceived air quality have been attributed to correlation of indoor CO2 with concentrations of other indoor air pollutants that are also influenced by rates of outdoor-air ventilation.

Objectives: We assessed direct effects of increased CO2, within the range of indoor concentrations, on decision making.

Methods: Twenty-two participants were exposed to CO2 at 600, 1,000, and 2,500 ppm in an office-like chamber, in six groups.

Components of Critical Decision Making and ABSITE Assessment: Toward a More Comprehensive Evaluation.

Rationale: Accurate assessment of resident competency is a fundamental requisite to assure the training of physicians is adequate. In surgical disciplines, structured tests as well as ongoing evaluation by faculty are used for evaluating resident competency. Although structured tests evaluate content knowledge, faculty ratings are a better measure of how that knowledge is applied to real-world problems.

Simulation-based executive cognitive assessment and rehabilitation after traumatic frontal lobe injury: a case report.

Purpose: To investigate whether identifying specific deficits after brain injury can lead to a more focused and potentially effective cognitive rehabilitation technology.

Method: Cognitive simulation assessment was undertaken in a 47-year-old man with trauma-related prefrontal damage and persisting occupational and cognitive-behavioral difficulties at 15 months post brain injury.

Results: Results revealed significant difficulties in measured levels of activity, initiative, information utilization, response flexibility, and effective decision-making strategies which accorded well with his real-life complaints despite normal neuropsychological test scores.

Improvements in simulated real-world relevant performance for patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis: impact of desloratadine.

Background: Seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) diminishes task performance and decreases quality of life. Antihistamines are frequently used to treat the symptoms of SAR. First generation antihistamines often have their own detrimental effects upon human functioning while second generation antihistamines appear to have fewer or no undesirable side-effects.

Value of a cognitive simulation in medicine: towards optimizing decision making performance of healthcare personnel.

Medical errors can be reduced or avoided by training in both factual knowledge and in optimal information processing. The latter is of special importance when task settings are complex, when information about a patient's condition is ambiguous and uncertain, and when rapid changes can occur. Simulations can contribute to effective training in these areas of functioning without putting patients at risk.