STRATEGY FOR DEVELOPING OF CLINICAL THINKING: HOW TO AVOID MEDICAL MISTAKES

Abstract

The contemporary paradigm of clinical thinking, understood as a dynamic process of analyzing medical information to formulate well-reasoned conclusions, represents a key professional competence of a physician. The integration of knowledge, experience, practical skills, and humanistic values within clinical reasoning enables physicians to establish accurate diagnoses and develop effective treatment plans that consider the individual needs of patients. This article substantiates the relevance of developing clinical thinking as a core professional competence of modern physicians in the context of increasing complexity of healthcare and growing requirements for patient safety. Clinical thinking is conceptualized as an integrative cognitive process that combines analytical, intuitive, and reflective mechanisms of decision- making based on evidence-based medicine, clinical experience, and patient-specific characteristics. The study analyses major factors contributing to medical errors, including cognitive biases, insufficient communication within multidisciplinary teams, information overload, emotional burnout, and limited hands-on clinical experience. A strategy for the development of clinical thinking is proposed, involving the systematic implementation of clinical case-based learning, simulation-based training, algorithmization of diagnostic processes, and the development of clinical reflection and metacognitive regulation skills. Particular attention is paid to fostering a culture of patient safety, strengthening interprofessional collaboration, and applying the principles of evidence-based medicine as tools for risk minimization. The importance of pedagogical support, mentorship, and the creation of a safe educational environment for cultivating responsible clinical decision-making is emphasized. The study demonstrates that the purposeful development of clinical thinking in the professional training of future physicians is an effective approach to preventing medical errors, improving the quality of healthcare, and ensuring patient safety. The findings may contribute to the enhancement of educational programmes in higher medical education institutions.