Nurse Practitioners' Versus Physicians' Diagnostic Reasoning Style and Use of Maxims: A Comparative Study

The study used an intuitive/analytic reasoning instrument and maxims questionnaire to compare 1) the diagnostic reasoning style of 30 nurse practitioners (NPs) and 16 resident doctors and 2) its influence on their diagnostic reasoning abilities of a complex case. The results showed NPs incorporated more system I (intuitive) processes when compared with residents; however, both groups identified with certain maxims. Diagnostic reasoning style was not related to participants' diagnostic reasoning abilities, indicating they triggered system II (analytic) processes when required. Although system I processes are essential, clinicians need to be aware of the value and pitfalls associated with them. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.