The goal of this review is to demonstrate the steps and the main items of the cognitive process used by doctors in clinical reasoning of diagnostic and therapeutic decisions. The clinical problem- solving process makes use of the hypothetic deductive scientific method to solve problems. As soon as the doctor meets his (her) patient, many diagnostic hypotheses emerge in his (her) mind, which are evaluated and refuted or corroborated. The diagnostic decision occurs when a hypothesis reach a certain degree of likelihood. The therapeutic decision is based on the intended objectives and the waited efectiveness among many available alternatives.
Clinical reasoning; Problem solving; Decision making; Clinical competence; Diagnosis; Physician-patient relations
