Healthcare Administration Leadership & Management Journal
The Hazards of Habituation in Healthcare: Are We Too Content at Being Complacent?
This article explores habituation in medical care, its effects on patients and staff, and offers strategies to mitigate it, including response sensitization and technology use.
January/February 2025 Vol. 3, No. 1 pp. 29–32 DOI: 10.55834/halmj.1546472964
Abstract
Habituation is the process in which repeated exposure to a stimulus results in decreased response over time. This process can play a significant role in medical practices. In this article we explore the phenomenon of habituation within the context of medical care, as well as its impact on patients, staff, and healthcare providers. In doing so, we provide suggestions to mitigate habituation within a medical practice setting, including the importance of relying on response sensitization to combat the potential hazards of habituation. We also discuss the role of technology and innovation in minimizing habituation and enhancing the effectiveness of existing technologies that are already available in most medical practices.
