The most frequently used clinical reasoning process is Forward-based reasoning. This type of thinking works well for routine and well-researched medical problems. This type of reasoning is very concrete, efficient and predictable. Algorithms are a classic example of this type of thinking.

Standard clinical teaching follows a pattern whereby several diagnostic hypotheses are generated from the patient’s signs and symptoms, then additional information is sought to confirm or refute individual hypotheses. This type of reasoning works well in most cases because the clinician has memorized 1000's of illness scripts that will automatically surface into working memory when routine symptoms are presented.


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