A 3000 word literature review based upon the underlying theories that support the clinician in their clinical reasoning, reflecting on a clinical decision that has been made in clinical practice.
(100% weighting) Meets all LO's

Additional Assessment Details (include formative feedback / assessment):
Formative feedback: practice feedback, tutorials, scenario discussions, role play
Group tutorial on assignment with formative feedback on assignment plan
Formative feedback from clinical preceptor in a clinical practice setting.

To introduce students to the psychology of decision making, as applied to clinical practice, with a view to enhancing their understanding of the decision processes involved in the diagnosis and treatment of patients and to propose ways of improving professional decision making and reducing diagnostic error.

Clinical Ethics

Theories of clinical decision making and models and the role of uncertainty, will be explored

The basis of epidemiology concepts and their positive and negative predictive value in the evaluation of diagnostic tests, physical examination, their sensitivity and specificity and likely prevalence and incidence of disease.

The use of appropriate theory to estimate the post-test predictability probability of a diagnostic test of known sensitivity and specificity will be examined.

The concepts of bounded rationality and heuristics in psychology and illustrate the cognitive biases, including the investigation of the issues with humans using probabilistic reasoning, clinical error and clinical error taxonomy.

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: (24 hours)
18 hours Lectures
6 hours Assignment group tutorial, Blackboard – blended learning activities, narrated PowerPoints

Guided Indepednent Study: (126 hours) - will be organised independently by the student research, reading, assignment preparation This independent study will involve activities related to pathophysiology and biomedical knowledge underpinning physical assessment.

Bickley, L.S.,(2012), Bate’s Guide to Physical Assessment, Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins
Gambrill, E,(2012), Critical Thinking in Clinical Practice: Improving the Quality of Judgements and Decisions, John Wiley & Sons, 3rd Edition
Jarvis, C.,(2011), Physical Examination and Health Assessment, Saunders
Sox, H.C.,(2013), Medical Decision Making, Wiley-Blackwell; 2nd Edition

Skill Lab, Blackboard VLE, Video demonstration materials, PowerPoint conversion software for FLASH presentations.

Three years post registration experience and registered with an appropriate professional body

1. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the basic epidemiology concepts to apply theory in the critical evaluation of diagnostic tests (Enquiry, Knowledge and Understanding, Learning)

2. Demonstrate the qualities required in taking the initiative to provide innovative solutions in complex and unpredictable situations (Problem Solving, Reflection)

3. Demonstrate a critical awareness of the main clinical approaches to clinical decision making and how they relate to clinical practice (Analysis, Application)

The purpose of this module is to enable you to understand and explore the clinical decision making processes in order to reduce diagnostic error.