Differences in Diagnostic Reasoning of Expert and Novice Residents: Underlying Reasons and Suggestions for Improvements

Abstract

With concerns related to patient safety gaining global precedence, diagnostic errors are speculated as an important cause of harm to the patients.Strong diagnostic skills indeed develop on grounds of sound knowledge and experience, however an understanding of the cognitive processes underlying diagnosis, principles of expertise development and a commitment to lifelong learning add to a clinician's diagnostic reasoning paradigm. An exploration into the differences in diagnostic reasoning among expert and novice residents can yield practical insights into optimizing the diagnostic thought process. Awareness of the possible underlying factors leading to expertise in diagnostic reasoning, along with a repertoire of strategies to improve can be a starting point for novice residents towards developing this crucially important skill.