The effect of structured reflection on the diagnostic accuracy of postgraduate trainees during real patient encounters

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dc.contributor.advisorBurch, Vanessaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorRush, Colin Jamesen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2017-01-19T12:23:41Z
dc.date.available2017-01-19T12:23:41Z
dc.date.issued2016en_ZA
dc.description.abstractStructured reflection has been shown to improve the diagnostic competence of undergraduate and postgraduate trainees in a range of experimental settings using written case scenarios. Evidence supporting the use of this strategy during real patient encounters is lacking. This paper reports on a study conducted to determine the effects of structured reflection on the diagnostic accuracy of postgraduate medical trainees during bedside tutorials using real patient encounters. Method Fifty-five postgraduate trainees in Internal Medicine at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, were prospectively studied during 18 beside tutorials using real patient encounters. Each patient encounter was conducted as a 4-stage diagnostic process and a diagnostic accuracy score (DAS) was calculated for all participants at each stage: • DAS 1: immediately upon arrival at the patient's bedside (visual cues only); • DAS 2: after an oral presentation of the interview and physical examination findings (pre-reflection); • DAS 3: after review of the clinical data using a process of structured reflection (post-reflection); • DAS 4: after discussion of the patient facilitated by the attending physician (facilitated reflection). Memory structure and flexibility in thinking of participants were evaluated using the Diagnostic Thinking Inventory (DTI) and compared to their post-reflection diagnostic accuracy scores. Results A total of 212 diagnostic events were studied. Friedman's test demonstrated a significant difference when comparing the median diagnostic accuracy scores (DAS) of the respective stages of the diagnostic process (χ² (3) = 406.34, p value < 0.001). The Wilcoxon signed-rank test confirmed that there was a significant difference between the immediate DAS (DAS 1) and the pre-reflection DAS (DAS 2) (Z = 8.66, p value < 0.001), the pre-reflection DAS (DAS 2) and the post reflection DAS (DAS 3) (Z = 4.98, p value < 0.001). Linear regression identified a significant relationship between DTI scores and DAS 3 (p value = 0.035), however this explains only a small portion of the variation in the data (r² = 0.093). Conclusion Structured reflection improved the diagnostic accuracy of postgraduate trainees during real patient encounters at the bedside. These data provide support for the suggestion that clinical teachers should consider adding structured reflection to their toolbox of bedside teaching strategies. In addition, DTI scores may help clinical teachers identify trainees struggling with the development of diagnostic expertise.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationRush, C. J. (2016). <i>The effect of structured reflection on the diagnostic accuracy of postgraduate trainees during real patient encounters</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Medicine. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/22819en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationRush, Colin James. <i>"The effect of structured reflection on the diagnostic accuracy of postgraduate trainees during real patient encounters."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Medicine, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/22819en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationRush, C. 2016. The effect of structured reflection on the diagnostic accuracy of postgraduate trainees during real patient encounters. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Rush, Colin James AB - Structured reflection has been shown to improve the diagnostic competence of undergraduate and postgraduate trainees in a range of experimental settings using written case scenarios. Evidence supporting the use of this strategy during real patient encounters is lacking. This paper reports on a study conducted to determine the effects of structured reflection on the diagnostic accuracy of postgraduate medical trainees during bedside tutorials using real patient encounters. Method Fifty-five postgraduate trainees in Internal Medicine at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, were prospectively studied during 18 beside tutorials using real patient encounters. Each patient encounter was conducted as a 4-stage diagnostic process and a diagnostic accuracy score (DAS) was calculated for all participants at each stage: • DAS 1: immediately upon arrival at the patient's bedside (visual cues only); • DAS 2: after an oral presentation of the interview and physical examination findings (pre-reflection); • DAS 3: after review of the clinical data using a process of structured reflection (post-reflection); • DAS 4: after discussion of the patient facilitated by the attending physician (facilitated reflection). Memory structure and flexibility in thinking of participants were evaluated using the Diagnostic Thinking Inventory (DTI) and compared to their post-reflection diagnostic accuracy scores. Results A total of 212 diagnostic events were studied. Friedman's test demonstrated a significant difference when comparing the median diagnostic accuracy scores (DAS) of the respective stages of the diagnostic process (χ² (3) = 406.34, p value < 0.001). The Wilcoxon signed-rank test confirmed that there was a significant difference between the immediate DAS (DAS 1) and the pre-reflection DAS (DAS 2) (Z = 8.66, p value < 0.001), the pre-reflection DAS (DAS 2) and the post reflection DAS (DAS 3) (Z = 4.98, p value < 0.001). Linear regression identified a significant relationship between DTI scores and DAS 3 (p value = 0.035), however this explains only a small portion of the variation in the data (r² = 0.093). Conclusion Structured reflection improved the diagnostic accuracy of postgraduate trainees during real patient encounters at the bedside. These data provide support for the suggestion that clinical teachers should consider adding structured reflection to their toolbox of bedside teaching strategies. In addition, DTI scores may help clinical teachers identify trainees struggling with the development of diagnostic expertise. DA - 2016 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2016 T1 - The effect of structured reflection on the diagnostic accuracy of postgraduate trainees during real patient encounters TI - The effect of structured reflection on the diagnostic accuracy of postgraduate trainees during real patient encounters UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/22819 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/22819
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationRush CJ. The effect of structured reflection on the diagnostic accuracy of postgraduate trainees during real patient encounters. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Medicine, 2016 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/22819en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Medicineen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherInternal Medicineen_ZA
dc.titleThe effect of structured reflection on the diagnostic accuracy of postgraduate trainees during real patient encountersen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMMeden_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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