Publication
Title
Embracing complexity with systems thinking in general practitioners' clinical reasoning helps handling uncertainty
Author
Abstract
Clinical reasoning in general practice is increasingly challenging because of the rise in the number of patients with multimorbidity. This creates uncertainty because of unpredictable interactions between the symptoms from multiple medical problems and the patient's personality, psychosocial context and life history. Case analysis may then be more appropriately managed by systems thinking than by hypothetic-deductive reasoning, the predominant paradigm in the current teaching of clinical reasoning. Application of “systems thinking” tools such as causal loop diagrams allows the patient's problems to be viewed holistically and facilitates understanding of the complex interactions. We will show how complexity levels can be graded in clinical reasoning and demonstrate where and how systems thinking can have added value by means of a case history.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Journal of evaluation in clinical practice. - Oxford
Publication
Oxford : 2021
ISSN
1356-1294
DOI
10.1111/JEP.13549
Volume/pages
27 :5 (2021) , p. 1175-1181
ISI
000618443700001
Pubmed ID
33592677
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 17.02.2021
Last edited 13.11.2024
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