Ming‑Chen Hsieha,b,c, Ming‑Shinn Leec*, Tsung‑Ying Chenb,c, Tsuen‑Chiuan Tsaid, Yi‑Fong Paic, Min‑Muh Sheue
aDepartment of Medical Education, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan, bDepartment of Medicine, College of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien,
Taiwan, cDepartment of Education and Human Potentials Development, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan, dDepartment of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital and Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, eDepartment of Ophthalmology, Mennonite Christian Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
Open Access funded by Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation
ABSTRACT
Objective: The aim of this study is to prepare junior physicians, clinical education should focus on the teaching of clinical decision‑making. This research is designed to explore teaching of clinical decision‑making and to analyze the benefits of an “Analogy guide clinical decision‑making” as a learning intervention for junior doctors. Materials and Methods: This study had a “quasi‑experimental design” and was conducted in a medical center in eastern Taiwan. Participants and Program Description: Thirty junior doctors and three clinical teachers were involved in the study. The experimental group (15) received 1 h of instruction from the “Analogy guide for teaching clinical decision‑making” every day for 3 months. Program Evaluation: A “Clinical decision‑making self‑evaluation form” was used as the assessment tool to evaluate participant learning efficiency before and after the teaching program. Semi‑structured qualitative research interviews were also conducted. Results: We found using the analogy guide for teaching clinical decision‑making could help enhance junior doctors’ self‑confidence. Important factors influencing clinical decision‑making included workload, decision‑making, and past experience. Conclusion: Clinical teaching using the analogy guide for clinical decision‑making may be a helpful tool for training and can contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of decision‑making.
Keywords: Analogy guide teaching, Clinical decision‑making, Medical education
