[Assessing a test to evaluate clinical analytical thinking according to medical training level].

BACKGROUND

MATCH (Measuring Analytical Thinking in Clinical Health Care) is an instrument to evaluate clinical reasoning.

AIM

To assess MATCH performance in professionals and students with different training in pediatrics.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

MATCH was administered to medical students (S), first (R1) and third (R3) year residents and staff physicians (P). We evaluated the score and time required to achieve it, according to training level in pediatrics.

RESULTS

Eighty five subjects were included (23 S, 28 R1, 17 R3 y 17 P), achieving 37.4 ± 6.0 points, in 25.2 ± 8.5 minutes. There were significant differences in score and time, according to training level. There was a positive correlation between training level and score (Rho = 0.515; p < 0.001), and a negative one between training level and time (Rho = -0.589; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

More experienced and trained professionals had a better performance in a clinical analytical thinking test.