Development and verification of a retrogressive learning method of clinical reasoning for medical students in pre-clinical years

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25460635
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Medical sociology
• Research Institution: Tokyo Women's Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Okubo Yumiko 東京女子医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (80287317)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): SUGANUMA Taiyo 東京女子医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (00328379) ; YOSHIOKA Toshimasa 東京女子医科大学, 学長 (60146438) ; NOMURA Kaoru 東京女子医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (40096623)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 臨床推論 / 問題基盤型学習 / 優先付け

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We developed a learning method of clinical reasoning for medical students in pre-clinical years and verified the educational efficiency. Students experienced retrogressive processes compared with progressive processes of problem-solving or clinical reasoning.
The third year students assumed imaginary cases suffering from some symptoms, followed by preparing suitable information for medical interview, physical examinations, and laboratory findings. They visited clinicians to observe their diagnostic processes on the “paper patient.” The learning efficacies of the students were measured by examinations.
Students found differences in reasoning processes by the clinical years and their specialties. The clinical reasoning abilities of the students were improved compared with previous and the students marked better scores compared with control group, but no differences were seen in occupational consciousness. This retrogressive learning method of clinical reasoning was effective.

Free Research Field

医学教育学