The development of clinical thinking in trainee physicians: the educator perspective

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Clinical Reasoning Development
• Physician Training

Background:

• Effective clinical practice hinges on physician thought processes.
• Trainee physicians often struggle to apply learning in clinical settings.
• Understanding educator perceptions of clinical thinking development is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore educators' perceptions of how trainee physicians develop clinical thinking.
• To identify educator strategies and contextual factors influencing this development.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing in-depth interviews with educators.
• Thematic analysis of 15 interview transcripts.

Main Results:

• Key themes: educationally minded culture, educator proximity, and trainee trajectory.
• Departments prioritized trainee education; all team members contributed.
• Educators worked closely with trainees, offering continuous monitoring and feedback.

Conclusions:

• Recommendations provided to support trainee clinical thinking development.
• Highlights the importance of context and supportive learning environments.
• Findings applicable to training other health professionals.