Diagnostic thinking and information used in clinical decision-making: a qualitative study of expert and student dental clinicians.

ABSTRACT:

Background

It is uncertain whether the range and frequency of Diagnostic Thinking Processes (DTP) and pieces of information (concepts) involved in dental restorative treatment planning are different between students and expert clinicians.

Methods

We video-recorded dental visits with one standardized patient. Clinicians were subsequently interviewed and their cognitive strategies explored using guide questions; interviews were also recorded. Both visit and interview were content-analyzed, following the Gale and Marsden model for clinical decision-making. Limited tests used to contrast data were t, chi2, and Fisher's. Scott's pi was used to determine inter-coder reliability.

Results

Fifteen dentists and 17 senior dental students participated in visits lasting 32.0 minut

SUBMITTER: Maupome G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2879228 | biostudies-literature | 2010 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature