This study evaluates the hypothesis that medical reasoning in real clinical situations involves multiple cognitive tasks whose complex interactions are coordinated in an opportunistic manner. A problem-solving architecture originating from research in artificial intelligence, the blackboard model, is proposed as an integrative framework for representing these characteristics of situated medical reasoning and for reconciling different theoretical perspectives about medical reasoning. A naturalistic clinical situation, involving the manipulation of the patient record by an internist while managing a case, provides the empirical data for this in depth qualitative case study. The video recording of the subject's record manipulation behavior allows the cueing of retrospective think-aloud verbalizations and the preservation of the real-time aspects of problem solving. The association of theory-driven task analysis using the blackboard model with data-driven propositional analysis confirm that medical reasoning in this situation indeed comprises a variety of cognitive tasks, which are described. Also, the opportunistic character of control knowledge and the complex interactions between control strategies and cognitive tasks are confirmed and described. The blackboard model allows the principled representation of these characteristics of situated medical reasoning, thus supporting its integrative character. However, certain aspects of the data, mostly related to the ambivalence of several concepts that are used by the subject during the course of problem-solving, are not explained in the most parsimonious manner by the blackboard model, nor by symbolic cognitive architectures in general. A connectionist alternative is proposed which seems to better account for these phenomena. Finally, a tentative neurophysiological interpretation of the blackboard framework is offered for integrating the symbolic and connectionist perspectives. This study has additional implications con

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The purpose of the study was to determine whether it was possible to predict the socio-demographic characteristics of physicians who adopt a new paradigm in medicine, wellness. A major objective of the research was to test the "marginal man" hypothesis. The literature suggested that there are at least three types of innovations: technological, organizational, and paradigmatic. Literature on the diffusion of innovations in medicine showed that high status physicians adopt technical innovations; more marginal, particularly young physicians and those of a liberal political orientation, most often adopt organizational innovations. Few studies dealing with paradigmatic innovations were found. Historical evidence supports the notion that family practitioners might be more accepting of the new paradigm. Physicians in Tucson, Arizona were surveyed concerning their attitudes and practices in the areas of health education and wellness, examples of the new paradigm in medicine. They were also asked about hospital-based health education services and competition between physicians and hospitals, examples of organizational innovation. The analyses revealed that family practitioners, women and government physicians were most supportive of wellness, affirming the research hypothesis and the "marginal man" hypothesis. The analysis also suggested that younger and more liberal physicians were more favorably disposed toward hospital involvement in health education. Liberal physicians were also not concerned about competition in health education service. These findings are similar to those found by other researchers of organizational innovations in medical care. Several methodological problems were noted, which render the findings suggestive rather than conclusive. The findings do suggest, however, that physician resistance to wellness will continue because of a medical paradigm conflict.

Introdução: Em Reprodução Assistida toda a equipe compartilha com o casal o árduo caminho composto pelas fases do tratamento, porém, o presente estudo deteve-se a experiência do médico. Objetivos: Investigar o Imaginário Coletivo de médicos que atuam em Reprodução Assistida sobre as situações de difícil manejo em sua prática profissional. Métodos: Foram feitas entrevistas únicas individuais, utilizando o Procedimento de Desenho-Estória com Tema como instrumento dialógico. A partir das entrevistas foi criada uma narrativa transferencial ficcional preservando elementos essenciais da dramática humana estudada. Os registros foram interpretados à luz do método psicanalítico buscando a criação/encontro de campos de sentido afetivo-emocional. Resultados: Foram encontrados os seguintes campos: \"Não deu certo!?\", que organiza-se ao redor da ideia de que não alcançar o objetivo pretendido seria o equivalente a fracassar, mesmo diante de situações incertas; \"Engole o choro!\", que organiza-se mediante a crença de que é preciso conter os sentimentos diante de determinadas situações, não deixar-se emocionar; \"Fora do comum\", que organiza-se por meio da crença de que quem está em posição de cuidador é e/ou precisa ser excepcional. Conclusões: Para a formação e à prática médica é preciso incluir, além da visão científica-tecnológica, a abordagem da subjetividade. É necessária a criação de enquadres diferenciados que auxiliem o médico a aproximar-se emocionalmente de seu trabalho, facilitem a superação de dissociações, promovam a saúde mental, contribuindo para que o exercício da profissão seja gratificante e dotado de um sentido genuíno / In Assisted Reproduction the whole team shares with the couple the hard journey through the phases of the treatment, however, this study is about the doctor\'s experience. Objectives: To investigate the Collective Imaginary of doctors working in Assisted Reproduction on some difficult situations in their professional practice. Methods: Individual interviews were conducted using the Thematic Story-Drawing Procedure as dialogical instrument. From the interviews a fictional narrative transference were created preserving essential elements of the human drama studied. The records were interpreted in light of the psychoanalytic method seeking the creation / gathering of affective-emotional sense fields. Results: The following fields were found: \"It did not work!?\", which is organized around the idea that not reaching the target would be equivalent to failing, even due to uncertain situations; \"Swallow your crying!\", Which is organized by the belief that one must contain the feelings before certain situations, not allowing themselves to get emotional; \"Out of the ordinary\", which is organized by the belief that who is in the position caregiver is and / or needs to be exceptional. Conclusions: For the training and medical practice is necessary to include, beyond the scientific-technological view, the approach of subjectivity. It is necessary to create different framings that help the doctor to approach their work emotionally, facilitate the overcoming of dissociations, promote mental health, this way contributing to the exercise of the profession so it can be rewarding and endowed with a genuine sense

Introdução: Em Reprodução Assistida toda a equipe compartilha com o casal o árduo caminho composto pelas fases do tratamento, porém, o presente estudo deteve-se a experiência do médico. Objetivos: Investigar o Imaginário Coletivo de médicos que atuam em Reprodução Assistida sobre as situações de difícil manejo em sua prática profissional. Métodos: Foram feitas entrevistas únicas individuais, utilizando o Procedimento de Desenho-Estória com Tema como instrumento dialógico. A partir das entrevistas foi criada uma narrativa transferencial ficcional preservando elementos essenciais da dramática humana estudada. Os registros foram interpretados à luz do método psicanalítico buscando a criação/encontro de campos de sentido afetivo-emocional. Resultados: Foram encontrados os seguintes campos: \"Não deu certo!?\", que organiza-se ao redor da ideia de que não alcançar o objetivo pretendido seria o equivalente a fracassar, mesmo diante de situações incertas; \"Engole o choro!\", que organiza-se mediante a crença de que é preciso conter os sentimentos diante de determinadas situações, não deixar-se emocionar; \"Fora do comum\", que organiza-se por meio da crença de que quem está em posição de cuidador é e/ou precisa ser excepcional. Conclusões: Para a formação e à prática médica é preciso incluir, além da visão científica-tecnológica, a abordagem da subjetividade. É necessária a criação de enquadres diferenciados que auxiliem o médico a aproximar-se emocionalmente de seu trabalho, facilitem a superação de dissociações, promovam a saúde mental, contribuindo para que o exercício da profissão seja gratificante e dotado de um sentido genuíno / In Assisted Reproduction the whole team shares with the couple the hard journey through the phases of the treatment, however, this study is about the doctor\'s experience. Objectives: To investigate the Collective Imaginary of doctors working in Assisted Reproduction on some difficult situations in their professional practice. Methods: Individual interviews were conducted using the Thematic Story-Drawing Procedure as dialogical instrument. From the interviews a fictional narrative transference were created preserving essential elements of the human drama studied. The records were interpreted in light of the psychoanalytic method seeking the creation / gathering of affective-emotional sense fields. Results: The following fields were found: \"It did not work!?\", which is organized around the idea that not reaching the target would be equivalent to failing, even due to uncertain situations; \"Swallow your crying!\", Which is organized by the belief that one must contain the feelings before certain situations, not allowing themselves to get emotional; \"Out of the ordinary\", which is organized by the belief that who is in the position caregiver is and / or needs to be exceptional. Conclusions: For the training and medical practice is necessary to include, beyond the scientific-technological view, the approach of subjectivity. It is necessary to create different framings that help the doctor to approach their work emotionally, facilitate the overcoming of dissociations, promote mental health, this way contributing to the exercise of the profession so it can be rewarding and endowed with a genuine sense

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Physicians were interviewed and asked about their perspectives on communicating with patients, media, and the ways in which the biomedical and biopsychosocial models function in the practice of medicine. Fisher’s Narrative Paradigm was the primary critical method applied to themes that emerged from the interviews. Those emergent themes included the importance of a team approach to patient care; perspectives on physicians as bad communicators; and successful communication strategies when talking to patients. Physicians rely on nurses and other support staff, but the most important partnership is that between the physician and patient. Narrative fidelity and probability are satisfied by strategies physicians use in communicating with patients: using understandable language when talking to patients; engaging in nonverbal tactics of sitting down with patients, making eye contact with patients, and making appropriate physical contact with them in the form of a handshake or a light touch on the arm. Physicians are frustrated by media’s reporting of preliminary study results that omit details as well as media’s fostering of expectations for quick diagnostic processes and magical cures within the public. Furthermore, physicians see the biomedical and biopsychosocial models becoming increasingly interdependent in the practice of medicine, which carries the story of contemporary medicine further into the realm of partnership, revealing its humanity as well as its fading paternalism.

No / Despite an explosion of interest in improving safety and reducing error in health care, one important aspect of patient safety that has received little attention is a systematic approach to education and training for the whole health care workforce. This article describes an evaluation of an innovative multiprofessional, team-based training program that embeds patient safety within quality improvement methods. METHODS: Kirkpatrick's "levels of evaluation" model was adopted to evaluate the program in health organizations across one city in the north of England. Questionnaires were used to assess reaction of participants to the program (Level 1). Improvements in patient safety knowledge and patient safety culture (Level 2) were assessed using a 12-item multiple-choice questionnaire and a culture questionnaire. Interviews and project-specific quantitative measurements were used to assess changes in professional practice and patient outcomes (Levels 3 and 4). RESULTS: All aspects of the program were positively received by participants. Few participants completed the MCQ at both time points, but those who did showed improvement in knowledge. There were some small but significant improvements in patient safety culture. Interviews revealed a number of additional benefits beyond the specific problems addressed. Most importantly, 8 of the 11 teams showed improvements in patient safety practices and/or outcomes. DISCUSSION: This program is an example of interprofessional education in practice and demonstrates that team-based learning using quality improvement methods is feasible and can be effective in improving patient safety, but requires time and space for participants. Alignment with continuing education arrangements could support mainstream adoption of this approach within organizations. / Despite an explosion of interest in improving safety and reducing error in health care, one important aspect of patient safety that has received little attention is a systematic approach to education and training for the whole health care workforce. This article describes an evaluation of an innovative multiprofessional, team-based training program that embeds patient safety within quality improvement methods. Methods: Kirkpatrick's “levels of evaluation” model was adopted to evaluate the program in health organizations across one city in the north of England. Questionnaires were used to assess reaction of participants to the program (Level 1). Improvements in patient safety knowledge and patient safety culture (Level 2) were assessed using a 12-item multiple-choice questionnaire and a culture questionnaire. Interviews and project-specific quantitative measurements were used to assess changes in professional practice and patient outcomes (Levels 3 and 4). Results: All aspects of the program were positively received by participants. Few participants completed the MCQ at both time points, but those who did showed improvement in knowledge. There were some small but significant improvements in patient safety culture. Interviews revealed a number of additional benefits beyond the specific problems addressed. Most importantly, 8 of the 11 teams showed improvements in patient safety practices and/or outcomes. Discussion: This program is an example of interprofessional education in practice and demonstrates that teambased learning using quality improvement methods is feasible and can be effective in improving patient safety, but requires time and space for participants. Alignment with continuing education arrangements could support mainstream adoption of this approach within organizations.