International Journal of General Medicine (Oct 2019)
Reflection Of Reflections: Building Diagnostic Expertise
Abstract
Taro Shimizu Department of Diagnostic and Generalist Medicine, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi 321-0297, JapanCorrespondence: Taro ShimizuDepartment of Diagnostic and Generalist Medicine, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Shimotsuga, Tochigi 321-0297, JapanTel +81 80 3518 8884Email [email protected]: The ability to make a correct diagnosis is one of the physicians’ core competencies. In view of continuous medical education, the way to establish and maintain this expertise has been explored. Reflection has been reported to serve as an effective measure of remediating individual diagnostic skill. This article highlights three reflections which are reflection in action, reflection on action, and reflection for action, evidenced by past reports. Applying these reflections allows physicians to revisit the link between fundamental and interdisciplinary medical knowledge in conjunction with prior experience, thereby developing enhanced levels of diagnostic expertise and mastery.Keywords: reflection, diagnostic error, diagnostic reasoning, continuous medical education, applied expertise
