Case-based clinical reasoning in feline medicine 1: Intuitive and analytical systems

• Published in: Journal of feline medicine and surgery Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 35 - 45
• Main Authors: Canfield, Paul J, Whitehead, Martin L, Johnson, Robert, O’Brien, Carolyn R, Malik, Richard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01-01-2016
• Subjects: Animals; Cat Diseases - diagnosis; Cat Diseases - therapy; Cats; Clinical Decision-Making; Evidence-Based Practice; Veterinary Medicine - standards
• ISSN: 1098-612X; 1532-2750; 1532-2750
• DOI: 10.1177/1098612X15623116

Aim:
This is Article 1 of a three-part series on clinical reasoning that encourages practitioners to explore and understand how they think and make case-based decisions. It is hoped that, in the process, they will learn to trust their intuition but, at the same time, put in place safeguards to diminish the impact of bias and misguided logic on their diagnostic decision-making.
Series outline:
This first article discusses the relative merits and shortcomings of System 1 thinking (immediate and unconscious) and System 2 thinking (effortful and analytical). Articles 2 and 3, to appear in the March and May 2016 issues of JFMS, respectively, will examine managing cognitive error, and use of heuristics (mental short cuts) and illness scripts in diagnostic reasoning.