Clinical reasoning in undergraduate paramedicine: utilisation of a script concordance test

BMC Medical Education

Research

Eli Semaan¹  Linda Ross²  Cameron M. Gosling²  Benjamin Fisk³  Brendan Shannon³ 

[1] Ambulance Victoria, Melbourne, Australia;Department of Paramedicine, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, Monash University, PO Box 527, Peninsula Campus, McMahons Road, Frankston, 3199, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia;Department of Paramedicine, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, Monash University, PO Box 527, Peninsula Campus, McMahons Road, Frankston, 3199, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia;Ambulance Victoria, Melbourne, Australia;

关键词: Paramedic;    Paramedicine;    Undergraduate;    Clinical reasoning;    Script concordance test;    SCT;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12909-023-04020-x

 received in 2022-09-30, accepted in 2023-01-11,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

IntroductionClinical reasoning is a complex cognitive and metacognitive process paramount to patient care in paramedic practice. While universally recognised as an essential component of practice, clinical reasoning has been historically difficult to assess in health care professions. Is the Script Concordance Test (SCT) an achievable and reliable option to test clinical reasoning in undergraduate paramedic students?MethodsThis was a single institution observational cohort study designed to use the SCT to measure clinical reasoning in paramedic students. Clinical vignettes were constructed across a range of concepts with varying shades of clinical ambiguity. A reference panel mean scores of the test were compared to that of students. Test responses were graded with the aggregate scoring method with scores awarded for both partially and fully correct responses.ResultsEighty-three student paramedic participants (mean age: 21.8 (3.5) years, 54 (65%) female, 27 (33%) male and 2 (2%) non-binary) completed the SCT. The difference between the reference group mean score of 80 (5) and student mean of score of 65.6 (8.4) was statistically significant (p < 0.001).DiscussionClinical reasoning skills are not easily acquired as they are a culmination of education, experience and the ability to apply this in the context to a specific patient. The SCT has shown to be reliable and effective in measuring clinical reasoning in undergraduate paramedics as it has in other health professions such as nursing and medicine. More investigation is required to establish effective pedogeological techniques to optimise clinical reasoning in student and novice paramedics who are devoid of experience.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023

【 图 表 】

41116_2022_35_Article_IEq493.gif