The Effect of Bayesian Reasoning Training on the Results of Clinical Reasoning Tests of Interns

Clinical reasoning includes a range of thinking about clinical medicine at all stages of patient evaluation. Bayesian theory can be used to refute or confirm differential diagnoses in the clinical reasoning process. In this way, by learning the basic mathematical language of probability in medicine, we can change our beliefs according to new evidence. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of holding a workshop about familiarity with Bayesian reasoning on the promotion of clinical reasoning in medical interns.

This is a quasi-experimental reseach using non-equivalent dependent variable design (NEDV). To do this 57 interns of Shahrekord Hajar Hospital  participated  in the pre-test of  SC type as a case and  KFP test as a control, Then, a three-hour workshop on clinical reasoning and Bayesian was  held. After 2 weeks of pre-test, post-test was held with a confidence interval of 0.95, their results were compared and analyzed with SPSS using  paired sample T-test.

The results of the study showed a significant increase in interns' scores in both KFP and SC tests. The rate of application of clinical reasoning for trainees in SC post-test was about 55%, which was 3.5% higher than SC pre-test, and this rate was 46% in KFP post-test, which was 3% higher than that of pre-test.

SC test is not a suitable evaluation method to show the effect of Bayesian reasoning training workshop on clinical reasoning and holding a Bayesian reasoning workshop has not a significant effect on improving the clinical reasoning situation of interns.