Investigating the relation between clinical reasoning and critical thinking skills and general self-efficacy in medical interns
Journal of Behdasht dar Arseh (i.e., Health in the Field),
Vol. 12 No. 4 (1403),
7 July 2025
,
Page 10-16
https://doi.org/10.22037/jhf.v12i4.46797
Abstract
Background and Aims: Clinical judgment in critical situations, supported by clinical reasoning skills as well as the use of critical thinking and general self-efficacy, can all contribute to the professional success of physicians in providing better diagnostic and therapeutic services. This study was conducted to examine the relationship between clinical reasoning, critical thinking skills, and general self-efficacy among medical interns at Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences.
Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study, the statistical population included medical interns studying during the academic year 2023-24 at hospitals affiliated with Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences. Census sampling was performed, and 130 interns participated in the study. Data were collected using the diagnostic thinking inventory (to assess clinical reasoning skills), Ricketts’ critical thinking questionnaire, and Schwarzer and Jerusalem’s general self-efficacy questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis. Ethical principles were strictly adhered to at every phase of the study.
Results: There was a significant correlation between critical thinking and self-efficacy with clinical reasoning. Critical thinking was identified as a stronger predictor of clinical reasoning.
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the importance of critical thinking and general self-efficacy in clinical reasoning and decision-making, as well as in enhancing clinical skills, highlights the need for greater attention to these two factors in the health domain. Incorporating activities and educational content to improve them in medical internship training programs is essential.
- Clinical reasoning
- Critical thinking
- Self-efficacy
How to Cite
References
- Khademi S, Naseri Jahromi R, Rasekh Jahromi A, Nabeei P. Designing a model of clinical reasoning competencies for medical students. Educational Development of Judishapur 2022; 13(1):130-44 (In Persian).
- Banning M. Clinical reasoning and its application to nursing: Concepts and research studies. Nurse Education in Practice 2008; 8(3):177-83.
- Bagheri M, Omid A, Kohan M, Mohamadi kia SA. The relationship between critical thinking disposition and clinical reasoning in medical residents of medical university of Isfahan. Iranian Journal of Medical Education 2019; 19(30):259-70 (In Persian).
- Monajemi A, Adibi P, Soltani Arabshahi K., Arbabi F, Akbari R, Custers E, et al. The battery for assessment of clinical reasoning in the Olympiad for medical sciences students. Iranian Journal of Medical Education 2011; 10(5):1056-67 (In Persian).
- Lloyd M, Bahr N. Thinking critically about critical thinking in higher education. International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning 2010; 4(2). Doi: 10.20429/ijsotl.2010.040209.
- Hariri N, Bagherinejad Z. Evaluation of critical thinking skills in students of health faculty, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences 2012; 22(Supple 1):166-73 (In Persian).
- Victor-Chmil J. Critical thinking versus clinical reasoning versus clinical judgment: Differential diagnosis. Nurse Educator 2013; 38(1):34-36.
- Lasater K. Clinical judgment development: Using simulation to create an assessment rubric. Journal of Nursing Education 2007; 46(11):496-503.
- Kuiper RA, Pesut DJ. Promoting cognitive and metacognitive reflective reasoning skills in nursing practice: Self-regulated learning theory. Journal of Advanced Nursing 2004; 45(4):381-91.
- Tahmasebzadeh Sheikhlar D, Mohammadi Poya S. Relationship between students' tendency towards critical thinking and perception of curriculum components and their self-efficacy beliefs. Journal of Curriculum Research 2020; 10(1):203-31 (In Persian).
- Boushehri E, Soltani Arabshah K, Monajemi A. Clinical reasoning assessment through medical expertise theories: past, present and future directions. Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran 2015; 29:222.
- Hasanpour M, Bagheri M, Ghaedi Heidari F. The relationship between emotional intelligence and critical thinking skills in Iranian nursing students. Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran 2018; 32:40.
- Khodarahimi S. General self-efficacy and worry in an Iranian adolescents and youths samples. Educational Research 2010; 1(2):015-20.
- SoltaniArabshahi K, Monajemi A, Kuhpayehzadeh J, Gholami T, Khajavi M. Evaluation of clinical reasoning of interns and residents of Iran University of Medical Sciences, 2013. Razi Journal of Medical Sciences 2015; 22 (132):18-25 (In Persian).
- Richard E, Evans T, Williams B. Nursing students’ perceptions of preparation to engage in patient education. Nurse Education in Practice 2018; 28:1-6.
- Mafla AC, Divaris K, Herrera‐López HM, Heft MW. Self‐efficacy and academic performance in Colombian dental students. Journal of Dental Education 2019; 83(6):697-705.
-Gutiérrez-Puertas L, Márquez-Hernández VV, Gutiérrez-Puertas V, Granados-Gámez G, Aguilera-Manrique G. Educational interventions for nursing students to develop communication skills with patients: a systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020; 17(7):2241
- Mann J. Critical thinking and clinical judgment skills development in baccalaureate nursing students. Kans Nurse 2012; 87(1):26-30.
-Richards JB, Hayes MM, Schwartzstein RM. Teaching clinical reasoning and critical thinking: from cognitive theory to practical application. Chest 2020; 158(4):1617-28.
-Nafea ET. Does self-efficacy affect clinical reasoning in dental students?. International Dental Journal 2022; 72(6):872-78.
- Abstract Viewed: 219 times