Department of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders of China, Chongqing, China.
Medicine (Baltimore). 2024 Sep 20;103(38):e39865. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000039865.
Pediatric diseases possess unique characteristics, requiring pediatricians to have strong critical thinking skills and sound ethical decision-making abilities. This study aims to investigate and analyze the critical thinking dispositions of pediatric medical students and their impact on ethical decision-making levels, and to propose suggestions for improving teaching methods. A cross-sectional study design was adopted, using the Chinese version of the California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CCTDI-CV) and an ethical decision-making questionnaire. An online survey was conducted among 240 pediatric medical students at Chongqing Medical University, collecting participants' basic demographic information. The study described the CCTDI-CV scores and ethical decision-making questionnaire scores (mean ± standard deviation), with distribution and trend analyses performed using t tests and H-tests. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between the 2, and regression analysis was conducted to explore factors influencing ethical decision-making abilities. A total of 229 students (95.4%) completed the survey. The overall average score of critical thinking disposition among pediatric medical students was 287.96 ± 39.09, with 139 students (60.70%) demonstrating positive or highly positive critical thinking dispositions. Ethical decision-making abilities were excellent in 85 students (37.12%). There was a significant positive correlation between critical thinking abilities and ethical decision-making abilities (R = 0.774, P < .001), particularly with analysis abilities, systematic abilities, and cognitive maturity showing higher correlations with total ethical decision-making scores. CCTDI-CV scores had a significant positive impact on ethical decision-making levels (P < .001), with factors such as family background and high school performance also significantly influencing ethical decision-making abilities (P < .001). Chinese pediatric medical students generally exhibit strong critical thinking and ethical decision-making abilities. Critical thinking plays a crucial role in medical ethical decision-making, with family background and high school performance being important influencing factors. Educators should focus more on developing multidimensional critical thinking skills to enhance students' ethical decision-making abilities, thereby improving overall healthcare service quality. The study results also provide new perspectives for international pediatric medical educators.
儿科疾病具有独特的特点，要求儿科医生具备较强的批判性思维能力和健全的伦理决策能力。本研究旨在调查和分析儿科医学生的批判性思维倾向及其对伦理决策水平的影响，并提出改进教学方法的建议。采用横断面研究设计，使用中文版加利福尼亚批判性思维倾向量表（CCTDI-CV）和伦理决策问卷对重庆医科大学的 240 名儿科医学生进行在线调查，收集参与者的基本人口统计学信息。研究描述了 CCTDI-CV 评分和伦理决策问卷评分（均数±标准差），采用 t 检验和 H 检验进行分布和趋势分析。采用 Pearson 相关分析考察两者之间的关系，采用回归分析探讨影响伦理决策能力的因素。共有 229 名学生（95.4%）完成了调查。儿科医学生批判性思维倾向的总分平均为 287.96±39.09，其中 139 名学生（60.70%）表现出积极或高度积极的批判性思维倾向。85 名学生（37.12%）的伦理决策能力表现优秀。批判性思维能力与伦理决策能力呈显著正相关（R=0.774，P<0.001），尤其是分析能力、系统能力和认知成熟度与总伦理决策得分的相关性更高。CCTDI-CV 评分对伦理决策水平有显著的正向影响（P<0.001），家庭背景和高中成绩等因素也对伦理决策能力有显著影响（P<0.001）。中国儿科医学生批判性思维和伦理决策能力普遍较强。批判性思维在医学伦理决策中起着关键作用，家庭背景和高中成绩是重要的影响因素。教育者应更加注重培养多维批判性思维能力，提高学生的伦理决策能力，从而提高整体医疗服务质量。研究结果也为国际儿科医学教育者提供了新的视角。
