1.Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the epidemiological concepts and diagnostic tests and their influence on decision making within your area of professional practice.
2. Understand the psychology of decision making in clinical practice, demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the decision processes, consider ways of improving decision making which aims to reduce diagnostic error.
3. Provide a comprehensive understanding and critical evaluation of the theories of clinical decision making models and the role of uncertainty appropriate to their area of professional practice.
4. Evaluate the qualities required in taking the initiative to provide sound judgements and employ appropriate decision-making in complex and unpredictable situations.

A 4000-word case study in which you consider a decision you made in clinical practice.

You should use decision-making theories to support your decision.

Ensure confidentiality is maintained throughout.

You should introduce the decision placing yourself and the case in context.

You should clearly state the actual decision being made and/or the dilemma you faced.

You should then examine the theories that may have been utilised by you as a clinical practitioner to inform your reasoning and how these apply to your decision.

This assessment links to all the learning Outcomes 1-4.

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.

The utilisation of service user videos to enable discussion around shared decision making in patients care.

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

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

Guided Independent Study: (176 hours) - will be organised independently by the student, researching, reading, assignment preparation This independent study will involve activities related to ethics, decision making theories, clinical reasoning, diagnostic errors and personality traits all of which underpin how clinicians make decisions.

Bickley, LS. (2020), Bates Guide to Physical Examination and history taking , 13th Edition, 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, (2016), 7th Edition, Physical Examination and Health Assessment, Saunders (available as e-book from library)

Saunders Sox, H.C., (2013), Medical Decision Making, Wiley-Blackwell; 2nd Edition

Standing, Mooi (20210) Clinical Judgement and decision making in nursing and interprofessional healthcare. McGraw-Hill Open University press (available as e-book from library).

Successful completion of this module will require you to have access to your own computer and good internet access.

Blackboard VLE, Video demonstration materials, PowerPoint conversion software for FLASH presentations. Microsoft teams, bmj case reports, Service user videos

Learning support

Learning support Additional study support is available from our Academic Skills team, who can help you with:

Study skills (including reading, note-taking, presentation skills)

Written English (including punctuation, grammar)

Academic writing (including how to reference)

Research skills

Critical thinking

Revision, and assessment skills (including time management) Additional needs support: If you have additional needs such as dyslexia or a sensory impairment, then our AccessAbility Services are here to help make sure nothing stands in your way.

Students undertaking this module must be registered on the Masters in Advanced Clinical Practice programme