CLIN SKILLS: Clinical Reasoning

Question 1

diagnostic momentum

Answer 1

• when you have a diagnosis in mind and make all of the evidence fit the diagnosis

Question 2

attribution error

Answer 2

• when the Pt has a stigmatising condition so you think that’s why they are ill
• e.g. they have HIV because they’re gay

Question 3

incomplete pattern

Answer 3

• when you have some evidence but not enough

Question 4

anecdotal evidence

Answer 4

• taking information from somewhere else and assuming it applies to the case in front of you

Question 5

premature closure

Answer 5

• when you’ve already decided what the Dx is based on the pattern at that time (which may be incomplete)

Question 6

availability error

Answer 6

• when you think a disease is more likely because relevant examples come to mind easily

Question 7

commission bias

Answer 7

• the need to do something e.g. run a test or start Tx
• “its most likely ____, come back and see me if it doesn’t get better in a week”

Question 8

halo effect

Answer 8

• having a +ve (can be -ve) view of something based on an unrelated personal characteristic
• e.g. gender, social status, appearance

Question 9

transference and countertransference

Answer 9

• transference: how the Pt feels towards you
• countertransference: how you feel towards the Pt
• more likely to treat someone better who you like

Question 10

overlapping patterns

Answer 10

• when something appears to be a particular Dx but is actually something different even tho it looks the same

Question 11

available vs anecdotal knowledge

Answer 11

• available: what you have learnt during training
• anecdotal: using info from your previous experience

Question 12

red flag

Answer 12

• risk factors for a condition e.g. smoking, poor diet

Question 13

yellow flag

Answer 13

• psychosocial barriers which may prevent recovery e.g. stress