Puzzle test: A tool for non-analytical clinical reasoning assessment

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Cognitive Psychology
• Clinical Assessment

Background:

• Contemporary clinical reasoning tests primarily evaluate non-automatic thinking processes.
• Automatic reasoning and pattern recognition are crucial aspects of clinical expertise but are underrepresented in current assessment tools.
• The Puzzle Test (PT) was developed to address this gap by focusing on automatic clinical reasoning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a standardized format for the Puzzle Test (PT).
• To outline the steps for preparing and administering valid and reliable PTs.
• To highlight the PT's role in assessing pattern recognition within clinical reasoning.

Main Methods:

• A detailed format for the Puzzle Test (PT) is presented.
• Guidelines for the construction and scoring of PT items are provided.
• The article outlines the administration process for PTs in medical education.

Main Results:

• The Puzzle Test (PT) effectively examines the clinical reasoning task of pattern recognition.
• The described format and guidelines facilitate the creation of valid and reliable PTs.
• The PT offers a complementary approach to existing clinical reasoning assessment tools.

Conclusions:

• The Puzzle Test (PT) is a valuable tool for assessing automatic clinical reasoning and pattern recognition in medical education.
• Standardized guidelines are essential for ensuring the quality and consistency of PTs.
• The PT enhances comprehensive clinical reasoning assessment by addressing neglected cognitive processes.