Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Clinical reasoning is enigmatic; however, students need to learn how to do it, educators need to be able to develop it, and experts need to explain how they do it. Health professions educators have described clinical reasoning as a skill required for health professionals. Clinical reasoning has been used synonymously with terms such as clinical judgement, critical thinking and clinical decision-making. Broadly speaking, clinical reasoning refers to the thought and decision-making processes associated with clinical practice and particularly choosing a course of action for a patient. Possible strategies for developing clinical reasoning and the use of certain learning tasks in the development of clinical reasoning in undergraduate health professions students have been highlighted. However, there are still areas of research to consider.

Bakgrund:Långvarig smärta definieras som smärta som kvarstår i över 3 månader. Det är vanligt förekommande i befolkningen och många söker vård för sina problem. Smärta är ett komplext begrepp som har inverkan på många olika faktorer hos individen men även en inverkan på samhället och dess resurser. Detta kan innebära utmaningar vid handläggning och framför allt vid val av behandling. Syfte:Syftet var att utforska kliniskt resonemang vid val av behandling för patienter med långvariga smärttillstånd hos en grupp fysioterapeuter i primärvården. Metod:Studien är en kvalitativ studie baserad på semistrukturerade intervjuer som analyserades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys.   Resultat:Det som ansågs spela stor roll för valet av behandling var behandlaren och patientens egenskaper och erfarenheter, relationen mellan dem samt analysen inför behandling. De riktlinjer som användes ansågs vara ett stöd men också svåra att applicera då behandlingen alltid behöver individanpassas i och med att patientgruppen är komplex. Möjlighet till samverkan ansågs vara viktigt för att bredda perspektivet och erbjuda patienten fler behandlingsalternativ. I behandlingsupplägget var målet alltid att öka funktionsnivå, vilket påverkade resonemanget kring val av behandling. Ökad kunskap hos patienten samt en ökad förmåga till smärthantering var ofta första steget. Slutsats:Många faktorer spelar in i det kliniska resonemanget för val av behandling för patienter med långvarig smärta. Erfarenhet hos behandlaren ansågs avgörande för beslutet och man kan därmed tänka sig att det är extra viktigt att nyexaminerade får möjlighet att samverka med kollegor med mer erfarenhet av patientgruppen. / Background:Chronic pain is defined as pain that remains in more than 3 months. Chronic pain is a widespread problem worldwide and there are many people who seek health care for their problems. Pain is a complex syndrome which impacts several aspects of the individual's life but also the society, which brings challenges in the assessment and the choice of treatment.  Purpose:The purpose of the study was to explore physiotherapists' clinical reasoning when choosing a treatment for patients with chronic pain in primary care.  Method:The study is a qualitative method based on semi-structured interviews which was analyzed with a qualitative content analysis.  Results:Factors that played a big part in the choice of treatment were the physiotherapist and the patient characteristics and experiences, the relationship between them and the significance of the examination. The guidelines that were used were considered to support the choice but were also seen to be difficult to apply, as the treatment always needs to be individualized because of the complexity in the patient group. The ability of cooperation was considered as a key factor to broaden the perspective and offer the patient different treatment alternatives. The treatments intended to increase function, knowledge and pain-management which had an impact on the clinical reasoning. Conclusion:Many factors play a part in the clinical reasoning for choosing treatment for patients with chronic pain. The physiotherapists experience was a crucial part of the decision and therefore it could be of importance that newly graduated physiotherapists get the possibility to cooperate with colleagues who have more experience of the patient group.

INTRODUCTION : Le raisonnement clinique est au coeur de l’exercice professionnel. Cependant, nous manquons d'instruments pour identifier et objectiver les difficultés de raisonnement clinique, et il existe relativement peu de descriptions de méthodes de remédiation définies. Un important travail reste donc à faire, pour mieux comprendre comment les difficultés se manifestent dans le raisonnement clinique des étudiants en formation, mais également pour rendre ces concepts plus accessibles aux enseignants; ceci permettra alors d’améliorer la qualité de la démarche d’identification des difficultés, et d’envisager des remédiations ciblées et efficaces. OBJECTIFS : Cette recherche s’articule d’une part, autour de l’objectivation et la compréhension des pratiques actuelles des cliniciens enseignants en médecine, d’autre part, autour de la construction et l’implantation d’outils et de processus susceptibles de faciliter la démarche de diagnostic et de remédiation des difficultés de raisonnement clinique. MÉTHODOLOGIE : Une recherche de type qualitative, utilisant les méthodes de la recherche action participative s’est révélée pertinente pour atteindre nos objectifs. La recherche est composée de quatre étapes : 1. Une étude exploratoire. 2. La construction et de l’implantation d’un premier outil dans trois milieux cliniques en médecine familiale. 3. L’élaboration d’une taxonomie des difficultés de raisonnement clinique ainsi que la construction d’un nouvel outil. 4. Le développement d’une approche globale pour soutenir et former les cliniciens enseignants. RÉSULTATS : Les enseignants ont une perception rapide, mais qui demeure globale et intuitive, des potentielles difficultés de raisonnement clinique des résidents. Cette perception ne se traduit pas forcément en termes pédagogiques. Nous avons pu observer l’absence de processus pédagogiques organisés et structurés pour la gestion de ces difficultés. Ceci semble projeter les cliniciens enseignants dans une zone d’inconfort, en les confrontant à un manque de maîtrise et à l’incertitude au sujet de leurs actions pédagogiques. La catégorisation des difficultés de raisonnement clinique que nous avons construite permet d’identifier les difficultés telles qu’elles se manifestent dans le quotidien des supervisions cliniques. Cet outil a cependant besoin d’être intégré dans un processus plus global. CONCLUSION : Une approche globale qui comprenne le développement de processus implantés par le Département, l’implantation d’outils, la vulgarisation de la théorie, et la formation des enseignants est déterminante. / CONTEXT: Clinical reasoning is central to medical practice. However, we lack tools to identify and objectify the difficulties of clinical reasoning, and there are relatively few descriptions of remediation methods defined. Much work remains to be done to better understand how the problems manifest themselves in the clinical reasoning of students in training, but also to make these concepts more accessible to teachers.Then this will improve the quality of the identification process difficulties, and allow considering targeted and effective remediations.PURPOSE: This research is based on the one hand, around the objectification and understanding of current practices of clinical teachers, on the other hand, around the construction and implementation of tools and processes to facilitate the process of diagnosis and remediation of difficulties in clinical reasoning. METHODOLOGY: A qualitative research, mainly using the methods of participatory action research has been relevant to achieving our goals. The research consists of four steps: 1. An exploratory study 2. The construction and implementation of a first tool in three clinical settings 3. The development of a taxonomy of difficulties in clinical reasoning and the construction of a new tool. 4. The development of a comprehensive approach to support and train clinical teachers RESULTS: Teachers have a quick perception, but still global and intuitive, of the potential difficulties of clinical reasoning residents. This perception does not necessarily move into pedagogical terms. We observed the absence of organized and structured pedagogical processes to manage these difficulties. This seems to project the clinical teachers in a zone of discomfort, by confronting them with a lack of control and uncertainty about their educational activities. The categorization of clinical reasoning difficulties that we have built allows identifying the problems as they occur in everyday clinical supervision. This tool, however, needs to be integrated into a larger process. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to develop a comprehensive approach that includes faculty development process, implementation tools, vulgarization of the theory, and teacher training.

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The aim of this study was to examine, understand and conceptualise the critical thinking and clinical reasoning adopted by new graduate occupational therapists as they enter the workforce to become newly autonomous practitioners. The study obtained the perspectives of new graduates, their supervisors and service managers on the means by which critical thinking and clinical reasoning develop to meet the expectations of employers. Factors which impeded the transition between new graduate and autonomous practitioner were identified and explored. Ethical approval was obtained to conduct the study. The study adopted a qualitative phenomenological research approach; Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), which informed framing, data gathering and analysis. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with new graduates (n=6), supervisors (n=7) and managers (n=7) from multiple sites within one National Health Service Board. Interviews were transcribed verbatim from audio-recordings. The findings indicate that new graduates are expected to develop critical thinking and clinical reasoning in a manner that might challenge traditional conceptualisations of the transitioning process. A phenomenon, historically named the “shock of practice”, was reflected on by therapists in each phase of the study and adaptive and mal-adaptive responses to this in the thinking and behaviour of new graduates was identified. The clinical supervisor-supervisee relationship appeared to be the key source of support, and the supervisor the most significant knowledge resource, for new graduates. This relationship was supplemented by both peer support and Preceptorship. Discharge planning was a significant source of anxiety and development of an algorithm to support this process is proposed. Recommendations for further research and theoretical implications for practice and undergraduate education are discussed.

Syftet med studien var att beskriva arbetsterapeuters kliniska resonemang vid arbetet med vuxna klienter med ADHD. Genom ett ändamålsinriktat urval identifierades åtta arbetsterapeuter inom psykiatrisk öppenvård som hade erfarenhet av att arbeta med vuxna klienter med ADHD. Data samlades in genom narrativa intervjuer och analyserades därefter med stöd av en paradigmatisk narrativ metod. Analys av data resulterade i tre teman som benämndes: Att möta personen där den är och skapa delaktighet i processen; Att möta en mångfacetterad problematik kräver samverkan; Att coacha klienten att etablera effektiva vanor. Arbetsterapeuternas kliniska resonemang ger indikationer på att det vid arbetet med berörd klientgrupp är viktigt att ta samtalets betydelse, klientcentrering och teamarbete i beaktning. Den visar på hur samtalet kan vara en intervention i sig och hur arbetsterapeuterna genom sitt resonemang kan möjliggöra klientcentrering genom att sätta klienten i fokus både i teamet och i det enskilda arbetet med klienten. Studiens resultat anses kunna bidra med kunskap för arbetsterapeuter som arbetat med vuxna klienter med ADHD och resultatet bör även gå att appliceras på andra klientgrupper inom området psykiatri eftersom denna studie tyder på att klienterna ofta har en mångfacetterad problematik som bidrar till utmaningar i dagliga aktiviteter. / The aim of the study was to describe the clinical reasoning of occupational therapists when working with adult clients with ADHD. Through a purposeful selection, eight occupational therapists were identified in psychiatric outpatient care who had experience working with adult clients with ADHD. Data was collected by narrative interviews and then analysed using a paradigmatic narrative method. Analysis of data resulted in three themes called: To meet the client where he or she is and promote participation in the process; To meet a multifaceted problem requires collaboration; To coach the client to establish effective habits. The clinical reasoning of occupational therapists gives indications that when working with the affected client group it is important to take into consideration the importance of the conversation, client centeredness and teamwork. It shows how the conversation can be an intervention in itself and how the occupational therapists can, through their reasoning, enable client centeredness by putting the client in focus both in the team and in the individual work with the client. The study's results can be considered to contribute knowledge for occupational therapists who work with adult clients with ADHD, and the result should also be applicable to other client groups in the field of psychiatry, as this study suggests that the clients often have  multifaceted problems that contributes to challenges in everyday occupations.

Corrêa CG. Raciocínio Clínico: o desafio do cuidar. [tese] São Paulo (SP): Escola de Enfermagem da USP; 2003. RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo é compreender a experiência do raciocínio clínico de enfermeiros especialistas. Utiliza-se como referencial teórico o Interacionismo Simbólico e como referencial metodológico a Teoria Fundamentada em Dados (Grounded Theory). Em entrevistas, 11 enfermeiros especialistas foram solicitados a relatar a experiência de identificar necessidades de cuidados em uma situação clínica que haviam vivenciado. A análise comparativa dos dados conduziu o delineamento de um modelo sobre a experiência do raciocínio clínico do enfermeiro especialista. O raciocínio diagnóstico apresentou-se indissociável do raciocínio terapêutico na maioria dos relatos. O modelo foi definido por três constructos. O constructo ENCONTRANDO-SE NO DESAFIO DO CUIDAR representa os processos pelos quais o enfermeiro vivencia o desafio do raciocínio clínico. A partir da vivência do desafio emerge o segundo constructo CUIDANDO que se refere ao processo central do raciocínio clínico. Trata-se de um processo sistematizado e dinâmico, composto de uma seqüência de pensamentos do enfermeiro no sentido de tomar decisões sobre suas ações. Esses dois constructos integrados são permeados por um terceiro, ATRIBUINDO VALOR AO CUIDAR, que os modula e dá especificidade a cada situação vivenciada. Dar continuidade ao estudo do modelo derivado nesta pesquisa possibilitará propor hipóteses que permitam testá-lo e aprofundar a compreensão do raciocínio clínico. Palavras chave: Raciocínio clínico; diagnóstico de enfermagem; intuição; cognição; cuidado. / Corrêa CG. Clinical Reasoning: the challenge of caring. [Phd Thesis]. São Paulo (SP): Escola de Enfermagem da USP; 2003. ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to understand the specialist nurses experience of clinical reasoning. The Symbolic Interactionism is the theoretical framework, and the Grounded Theory is the methodological one. Eleven specialist nurses were asked to report their experience on identifying nursing care needs in a clinical situation that they had experienced. Comparative analyses of the data led to the design of a clinical reasoning model for the specialist nurse. The diagnostic reasoning presented itself inseparable from the treatment reasoning in most reports. The model was defined by three constructs. The construct FINDING HIM/HERSELF OUT ON THE CARE CHALLENGE represents the processes by which nurses experience clinical reasoning challenge. Experiencing the caring challenge led to the second construct, CARING, which is concerned about the major judgement process. It refers to a systematic, dynamic process consisting of a sequence of thoughts in order to make decisions about the nurse actions. These two integrated constructs are permeated by a third one, ASCRIBING VALUE TO CARING, which modulates and gives uniqueness to each experienced situation. Further studies of the model devised in this research will develop hypotheses to test it and to deepen the understanding on clinical reasoning. Key words: clinical reasoning, nursing diagnosis, intuition, cognition, caring.

A acurácia dos diagnósticos de enfermagem é importante para a escolha de intervenções adequadas, mas ainda pouco se conhece sobre os fatores que a influenciam. Objetivos: identificar os fatores preditores da acurácia de diagnósticos de enfermagem; descrever o grau de acurácia dos diagnósticos de enfermagem documentados na prática clínica e testar a concordância intra e entre avaliadores na aplicação da Escala de Acurácia de Diagnósticos de Enfermagem Versão 2. Método: estudo documental realizado num hospital público de ensino da cidade de São Paulo, Brasil. A acurácia dos diagnósticos de enfermagem documentados na admissão de pacientes foi estimada por meio da aplicação da EADE Versão 2, que possui 4 itens para o julgamento da presença, relevância, especificidade e coerência das pistas existentes para o diagnóstico em avaliação. As respostas aos itens são pontuadas e geram um escore final variando de 0 a 13,5 (0 / 1 / 2 / 4,5 / 5,5 / 9 / 10 / 12,5 ou 13,5). A amostra do estudo foi aleatória, composta pelos registros de admissão de 749 pacientes adultos internados na clínica médica ou cirúrgica entre julho de 2005 e junho 2008. Todos os enfermeiros que documentaram as admissões avaliadas forneceram informações de características pessoais e profissionais. Foram computados dados de caracterização dos pacientes que tiveram seus registros analisados. Foram realizados testes de associação entre o grau de acurácia dos diagnósticos e variáveis dos diagnósticos, variáveis dos pacientes e dos registros de admissão e variáveis dos enfermeiros. As variáveis que nos testes de associação com o grau de acurácia obtiveram valores de p 0,20 foram incluídas em modelos de regressão linear múltipla. Uma sub-amostra com 156 admissões foi sorteada para estimar a confiabilidade da escala intra avaliador e entre avaliadores. Resultados: Dos 749 registros de admissão foram avaliados 3.417 diagnósticos documentados por 21 enfermeiros. A maioria dos diagnósticos de enfermagem foi avaliada como altamente acurada (70,4%,) e a média geral da acurácia foi 9,8 (DP =5,6 e variação de 0 a 13,5). As análises de regressão linear múltipla permitiram ajustar três modelos (variáveis dos diagnósticos, variáveis dos pacientes e dos registros de admissão, variáveis dos enfermeiros). O modelo com as variáveis dos diagnósticos mostrou que diagnósticos de baixa frequência (p=0,000), diagnósticos do domínio funcional (p=0,000) e diagnósticos atuais (p=0,000) são preditores de graus mais elevados de acurácia, explicando 28% da variância; o modelo com as variáveis dos pacientes e registros de admissão mostrou que doenças crônicas (p=0,000), internações na clínica médica (p=0,000) e qualidade satisfatória dos registros (p=0,005) são preditores de acurácia mais elevada, com variância explicada de 14%; e o modelo com as variáveis dos enfermeiros mostrou que o relato da presença de conteúdo teórico e prático em diagnóstico de enfermagem na graduação (p = 0,011) foi preditor de graus elevados de acurácia, explicando 26% variância. O valor de Coeficiente de Correlação Intraclasse (ICC) intra avaliadores foi 0,96 e o ICC entre avaliadores foi 0,71 o que confere boa confiabilidade à EADE - Versão 2. Conclusão: O estudo oferece dados empíricos que contribuem para o conhecimento sobre os fatores preditores da acurácia dos diagnósticos de enfermagem. / The accuracy of nursing diagnoses is important in order to select appropriate interventions, however little is known about the factors that influence it. Objectives: To identify the predictors of accuracy of nursing diagnoses; describe the degree of accuracy of nursing diagnoses documented in clinical practice and to test the intra and interrater reliability of the Accuracy Scale for Nursing Diagnosis (NDAS) Version 2. Method: A documental study carried out in a public teaching hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. The accuracy of the nursing diagnoses documented during admission assessment of the patients was estimated by applying the NDAS Version 2, which has four items to judge the presence, relevance, specificity and consistency of the existing cues for a documented diagnosis. The responses to the items were scored and generated a final score ranging from 0 to 13.5 (0/1/2/4.5/5.5/9/10/12.5 or 13.5). The study sample was randomly composed of the admission records of 749 adult patients hospitalized in general medicine or surgical wards between July 2005 and June 2008. Each of the nurses who documented the admissions provided demographic and professional information. Also computed were the data of characteristics of patients who had their records reviewed. Association tests were performed between the degree of accuracy of diagnoses and variables of the diagnoses, variables of the patients and admission records and the variables of the nurses. The variables that obtained p values 0.20 in the association tests with the degree of accuracy were included in multiple regression models. A sub-sample of 156 admission records was randomly selected to estimate inter and intra-raters reliability of the scale. Results: Of the 749 admission records that were evaluated, 3.417 diagnoses were documented by 21 nurses. The majority of the nursing diagnoses were evaluated as highly accurate (70.4%) and average overall accuracy was 9.8 (DP = 5.6) and ranged from 0 to 13.5. Multiple linear regression analysis allows the adjustment of three models (variables of the diagnoses, variables of the patients and admission records and variables of the nurses). The model with variables of the diagnoses showed that diagnoses of low frequency (p = 0.000), diagnoses of the functional domain (p = 0.000) and actual diagnoses (p = 0.000) were predictors of a higher degrees of accuracy, explaining 28% of the variance; the model with variables of patients and admission records showed that chronic diseases (p = 0.000), admissions to the general medical ward (p = 0.000) and a satisfactory quality of the patient records (p=0.005) were predictors of higher accuracy, explaining 14% of the variance; and the model with variables of the nurses showed that reporting presence of theoretical and practical content of nursing diagnosis in the baccalaureate program (p = 0.011) was predictor of higher degrees of accuracy, explaining 26% of the variance. The ICC coefficient of intra and interraters was 0.96 and 0.71 respectfully, therefore demonstrating good reliability of the NDAS Version 2. Conclusion: This study provided empirical data to advance knowledge regarding predictors of the accuracy of nursing diagnoses.

Estudo de natureza qualitativa, descritiva e exploratória, que teve como objeto o raciocínio clínico elaborado pelos enfermeiros ao cuidarem de feridas em clientes com afecções oncológicas. Os objetivos traçados para o estudo foram: identificar as estratégias cognitivas que os enfermeiros com especialização em área oncológica consideram adotar para o estabelecimento de um julgamento clínico na avaliação de feridas em clientes com afecções oncológicas e caracterizar as etapas de elaboração mental para construção do raciocínio clínico que os enfermeiros consideram percorrer quando da avaliação de feridas em cliente acometido por afecções oncológicas. O campo de pesquisa foi o Instituto Nacional do Câncer, no qual os cenários de coleta foi a unidade HC-I nas Seções de Oncologia Clínica, Neurocirurgia, Abdominopélvica, Centro de Tratamento Intensivo e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço. Os sujeitos do estudo foram treze enfermeiros com especialização em oncologia, que assistiam clientes com afecções oncológicas, há pelo menos cinco anos. A coleta dos dados aconteceu nos meses de junho e julho de 2009, sendo utilizado um roteiro de entrevista semi-estruturada para captar as informações. A análise dos dados foi realizada com base no método de análise de conteúdo, que ao ser aplicado possibilitou a apreensão de quatro categorias: (1) a afecção oncológica como fator expressivo na elaboração mental diagnóstica do enfermeiro; (2) a relevância do conhecimento teórico-prático avançado para a elaboração mental avaliativa do enfermeiro; (3) a construção da elaboração mental para o raciocínio clínico diagnóstico do enfermeiro; (4) a importância da interação humana no contexto avaliativo. Concluiu-se que, este estudo identificou, na discussão das categorias, as quatro principais estratégias cognitivas que os enfermeiros com especialização em área oncológica consideram adotar para o estabelecimento de um julgamento clínico na avaliação de feridas em clientes com afecções oncológicas e caracterizou as etapas de elaboração mental para construção do raciocínio clínico diagnóstico do tipo hipotético-dedutivo e intuitivo. Compreendeu-se que os sujeitos da pesquisa detêm qualidades intelectuais específicas e avançadas, quando elaboram diagnósticos e intervenções baseadas nas respostas humanas em situação de avaliação de feridas nos clientes com doença oncológica, e foi considerado que o ensino pode impulsionar o desenvolvimento das competências cognitivas no sentido de formar profissionais capazes de avaliar o próprio conhecimento, bem como a fomentação de novas pesquisas relativas a essa temática imprescindível para uma assistência de enfermagem qualificada. / This is a qualitative, descriptive and exploratory study about the clinical reasoning utilized from nurses when they take care wounds in clients with oncologic diseases. The purpose was identified the cognitive strategies which the oncologic specialized nurses utilize to define a clinical trial to evaluate the wounds in oncologic clients and characterize the stages of the mental elaboration that these nurses make to reach the reasoning trial when the evaluation of these wounds are taken. This study took place in the National Cancer Institute in the Unit HC-1 in the sections of Oncologic Clinic, Neurosurgery, Abdomem and Pelvic, Intensive Unit Care and Head and Neck surgery. The subject of this study was thirteen oncologic specialized nurses who are working in this field at least five years. The datas' collection was performed from June to July 2009 and was utilized a semi-structure interview. The datas' analysis was realized based in the analysis content method which allowed to reach four categories. (1) The oncologic disease as an expressive factor to the nurses in their mental elaboration of the diagnostic, (2) The relevance of the practical and theoric advanced knowledge to able the nurses to perform a mental evaluation, (3) The nurses steps of the mental elaboration to get the diagnostic clinical reasoning, (4) The human interaction in the evaluation context. It was concluded from the categories above, four main cognitives strategies which the oncologic specialized nurses utlilize to establish a clinical trial in the evaluation of the wounds in clients with oncologic diseases. Also this study characterized the mental steps elaboration to reach a diagnostic clinical reasoning as hypothetical-deductive and intuitive. It was understood that the subjects of this study who were evaluating the wound in clients with oncologic diseases have advanced and specific intellectual skills to perform a diagnostic and intervention in these clients. It was also considered that the education can promote the development of the cognitive proficiency to make the professionals able to evaluate their own knowledge as well as new researchs regarding at this thematic is indispensable to a qualified nursing assistance.

Although clinical reasoning is both broad and complex, the term “clinical reasoning” is contested and multiple definitions have been mooted within different contexts. In its simplest form, clinical reasoning is regarded as a “decision-making” process. Other definitions outline it in terms of a complex cognitive process, posited within multiple contextual factors. Traditionally, clinical reasoning models have been based upon cognitive theories. More recently, interpretive theories have been applied. Despite extensive research over the past four decades, no consensus on how clinical reasoning actually occurs has been achieved. Accurate clinical reasoning is vital to patient safety. Its importance as an essential clinical competence for healthcare professionals is well established. Indeed, it is the crux of a clinician’s work. Frequently, Foundation doctors are the first to review acutely unwell patients. During out-of-hours shifts senior help can be scant and Foundation doctors may have to rely on their own initial clinical reasoning to manage acutely unwell patients. This PhD explores clinical reasoning development in the transition phase between final year medical student and Foundation doctor (5MB-FY1 transition) in relation to acutely unwell patients. It follows a cohort of final year medical students from a single UK university on their clinical reasoning journeys as they transition into Foundation doctors, focusing on the role of the simulated healthcare setting and the workplace. The principle research question for this PhD was how does clinical reasoning develop across the transition phase between final year of medical school and Foundation year one? Within this overarching research question, the following sub-questions were posed: What do participants understand by the term clinical reasoning? What types of clinical reasoning experiences do participants narrate? How do participants clinically reason for acutely unwell patients? Which factors do participants perceive as being facilitating and hindering to their clinical reasoning? How do participants’ clinical reasoning processes develop across the 5MB-FY1 transition phase? This PhD uses multiple methodologies derived from interpretive approaches in innovative ways to tap into clinical reasoning processes and its development across four data collection points: T1: group and individual interviews; T2: Ward Simulation Exercise observations and stimulated recall interviews; T3: workplace observations and stimulated recall interviews; T4: final interviews. Data were collected from T1/T2 and T3/T4 during the final year of medical school and Foundation year one respectively. Primary thematic analyses were carried out cross-sectionally and longitudinally in terms of what participants said and how they said it. Secondary narrative analyses were undertaken of participants’ Personal Incident Narratives. By taking an interpretive approach, the complexities of clinical reasoning processes, both in terms of internal cognition and external socio-cultural influences were illuminated, drawing upon clinical reasoning, complexity and situated learning theories. The key findings of this PhD were that participants conceptualised clinical reasoning as a “decision-making” and “thinking” process, leading to a clinical judgement for patient care; participants narratives aided understanding of clinical reasoning process and factors which facilitated and hindered them; participants used experiential knowledge and protocols to clinically reason for diagnosis, investigation, management and prioritisation; participants retained flexibility and contextual variability in the processes of making their clinical judgements; multiple factors facilitated and hindered the equilibrium of clinical judgement processes; and clinical reasoning development is dependent upon a complex interplay of individual, interpersonal and systemic factors which are deeply embedded in social-cultural theory. This study has multiple strengths and original features such the high participant retention rate throughout the longitudinal study, the exploration of the 5MB-FY1 transition, contemporaneous observations of clinical interactions with patients, the exploration of the out-of-hour setting contemporaneously and the multiple methods of data collection used in innovative ways. This PhD develops the published literature further in these domains. However, its challenges were predominantly ethical, such as lack of patient capacity to consent in the workplace.