Case Presentation Format and Clinical Reasoning: A strategy for teaching medical students

Abstract

A strategy for clinicians (residents, attending physicians and preceptors) to teach medical students how to present and reason out a patient case is described. A case presentation can be divided into three phases: (1) reporting and organising patient information (clinical data); (2) analysing and synthesising (problem list and differential diagnosis); (3) managing the case (diagnostic and therapeutic plan). Four teaching principles can facilitate students' learning of the three phrases; these are (1) communicating objectives and expectations; (2) directing attention; (3) expanding the case; (4) giving feedback. Since case presentations/discussions are basic skills students will use throughout their careers, it is worthwhile for teachers to give explicit attention to teaching these skills.