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== Critical Thinking ==

=== Definition of Critical Thinking ===
Below are some definitions of critical thinking available in healthcare literature.

* "Critical thinking is the process of analysing and evaluating thinking to make decisions."<ref>Berg C, Philipp R, Taff SD. Scoping review of critical thinking literature in healthcare education. Occupational Therapy In Health Care. 2023 Jan 3;37(1):18-39.</ref>
* "Critical thinking is a process of careful thought and reflection before a decision is made."<ref>Ho YR, Chen BY, Li CM. [https://bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12909-023-04134-2 Thinking more wisely: using the Socratic method to develop critical thinking skills amongst healthcare students.] BMC medical education. 2023 Mar 20;23(1):173.</ref>
* "Critical thinking is defined as the purposeful, self-regulatory judgement that results in interpretation, analysis and inference as well as explanation of the evidential, conceptual, methodological, criteriological or contextual considerations upon which that judgement is based."<ref>Brudvig TJ, Dirkes A, Dutta P, Rane K. Critical thinking skills in health care professional students: A systematic review. Journal of Physical Therapy Education. 2013 Oct 1;27(3):12-25.</ref>
* "The act or practice of thinking critically (as by applying reason and questioning assumptions) to solve problems, evaluate information, discern biases, etc."<ref>Merriam Webster Dictionary. Critical thinking. Available from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/critical%20thinking (last accessed 3 April 2024)</ref>

=== Key Elements of Critical Thinking in Healthcare ===
Several key elements are involved in critical thinking when managing patients. These are<ref name=":1">Olivier, B. Professional Behaviours in Thinking and Communication. Course. Plus. 2024</ref>:

* assessment and analysis
* problem identification
* decision-making
* continuous evaluation

=== The Ideal Critical Thinker ===
Personal critical thinker indicators refer to the behaviours and characteristics of critical thinkers.<ref name=":0">Alfaro-Lefevre, R. Critical Thinking, Clinical Reasoning and Clinical Judgement. Edition 7. Missouri. Elsevier, 2020.</ref> Developing these characteristics / behaviours may help healthcare professionals in their quest to become better critical thinkers. Indicators are listed in Table 1. 
{| class="wikitable"
|+Table 1. Personal critical thinker indicators
! colspan="4" |Critical thinker indicators
|-
|
* self-aware
* curious
* self-corrective
* intuitive
* honest
* prudent
* creative
* courageous
* health-oriented
|
* genuine
* inquisitive
* analytical
* confident
* responsible
* open-minded
* realistic
* patient
* improvement-oriented
|
* authentic
* alert to context
* insightful
* resilient
* autonomous
* fair-minded
* practical
* persistent
|
* effective communicator
* reflective
* logical
* careful
* sensitive to diversity
* proactive
* flexible
|}
Critical thinking is a skill that can be improved through self-awareness, instruction, practice and getting feedback from others. Three different perspectives of critical thinking are thinking ahead, thinking in action and reflective thinking or thinking back.<ref name=":0" />

=== Strategies for Becoming a Critical Thinker ===
Five recommended strategies to become a critical thinker are<ref name=":0" />:

# Get to know yourself better and understand yourself (self-awareness)
# Build trust in relationships through respectful communication
# Commit to developing the necessary skills, knowledge and attitude for critical thinking
# Make sure everyone in your group / department / division knows what critical thinking is by using evidence-based resources
# Reflect on your thinking and reasoning processes and ask for feedback

== Navigating Professional Challenges with Problem-Solving Skills ==

=== Why is Problem-Solving in Healthcare Significant? ===

* Adaptability to change:
** effective problem-solving skills allow healthcare professionals to adapt to unpredictable and dynamic changing situations<ref>Saeedyan M, Mohammadi MA, Mirzaei A, Mozaffari N. [https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.934569/full Predictors of problem-solving skills among emergency medical services staff in Iran: A cross-sectional correlational study.] Frontiers in Psychology. 2022 Jul 27;13:934569.</ref>
* Optimising patient outcomes:
** enhancing healthcare professionals' decision-making skills will raise the quality of patient care<ref>Fatma AY, Polat S, Kashimi T. Relationship between the problem-solving skills and empathy skills of operating room nurses. Journal of Nursing Research. 2020 Apr 1;28(2):e75.</ref> and improve patient outcomes
* Ethical decision-making
* Patient advocacy

=== Necessary Skills for Effective Problem-Solving ===
Certain skills are required in healthcare professionals for effective problem-solving in different and complex scenarios.<ref name=":1" /> These include<ref name=":1" />:
* analytical or critical thinking
* collaborative problem-solving
* continuous improvement mindset
* resilience and adaptability
* effective communication
{{#ev:youtube|lzk8-GXrAAA|300}}<ref>Learning Mavericks. Improve Decision Making, Communication, and Problem Solving Skills In Healthcare | Soft Skills. Available from:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzk8-GXrAAA [last accessed 03/04/2024]</ref>
== Effective Communication Strategies ==

=== Important Aspects Related to Communication ===

* Effective communication builds trust<ref>Greene J, Ramos C. A mixed methods examination of health care provider behaviors that build patients’ trust. Patient Education and Counseling. 2021 May 1;104(5):1222-8.</ref>
** you can read more about factors leading to effective communication [[Modes of Communication#Factors Leading to Effective Communication|here]]
* Empathy and compassion<ref>Savvoulidou K, Papageorgiou A, Kolokotroni O, Kapreli P, Tsokani A, Strimpakos N, Kapreli E. Facilitators and barriers of empathetic behaviour in physiotherapy clinical practice: A qualitative focus group study. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice. 2024 Feb 23:102923.</ref>
** empathetic communication is important in building a therapeutic alliance
** empathetic communication allows clinicians to gather vital subjective information that promotes a holistic patient approach
** you can read more about using empathy in communication [[Using Empathy in Communication|here]]

* Effective choice of communication strategies
** patients prefer clinicians who communicate without medical jargon
** clinicians who communicate with clear, concise and jargon-free language are more positively received; they are seen as empathetic and approachable and are rated as good communicators by patients<ref>Allen KA, Charpentier V, Hendrickson MA, Kessler M, Gotlieb R, Marmet J, Hause E, Praska C, Lunos S, Pitt MB. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9983080/pdf/10.1177_23743735231158942.pdf Jargon be gone–patient preference in doctor communication.] Journal of Patient Experience. 2023 Mar;10:23743735231158942.</ref>

* Cultural competence
** you can read more about culture and communication [[Culture and Communication|here]]

* Informed decision-making
** this is a collaborative process that involves the patient and clinician making a decision after discussing all the available options, the pros and cons of each option, and considering patient preferences, values and circumstances<ref>Hoffmann T, Bakhit M, Michaleff Z. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8784295/pdf/main.pdf Shared decision making and physical therapy: what, when, how, and why?.] Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy. 2022 Jan 1;26(1):100382.</ref>
** you can read more about informed-decision making and other important considerations when discussing options with patients [[Formulating and Implementing the Treatment Plan and Evaluation#Discussing the Options with the Patient|here]]

* Team dynamics
** effective communication between members of a medical team enables the team to make adjustments to strategies and actions during patient care
** "Effective communication is the linchpin of teamwork."
** communication quality is more important than frequency<ref>Gregory ME, Hughes AM, Benishek LE, Sonesh SC, Lazzara EH, Woodard LD, Salas E. Toward the development of the perfect medical team: critical components for adaptation. Journal of patient safety. 2021 Mar 1;17(2):e47-70.</ref>

* Information sharing 
** "Timely and accurate sharing of patient information is crucial for coordinated care."<ref name=":1" />

* Respecting patient privacy
** information sharing is important in an interdisciplinary health team, but healthcare professionals should convey sensitive information discreetly and securely
** healthcare providers are legally obligated to keep patient information private and secure<ref>Tegegne MD, Melaku MS, Shimie AW, Hunegnaw DD, Legese MG, Ejigu TA, Mengestie ND, Zemene W, Zeleke T, Chanie AF. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8922732/pdf/12910_2022_Article_765.pdf Health professionals' knowledge and attitude towards patient confidentiality and associated factors in a resource-limited setting: a cross-sectional study.] BMC medical ethics. 2022 Mar 14;23(1):26.</ref>

== Interpersonal Skills for Positive Relationships and Outcomes ==
Interpersonal skills lie at the heart of professionalism in healthcare. These skills include<ref name=":1" />:

* effective communication
* empathy and active listening
* interprofessional collaboration
* conflict resolution
* cultural sensitivity
* maintaining boundaries
* team building

== References  ==

<references />
[[Category:Course Pages]]
[[Category:ReLAB-HS Course Page]]
[[Category:Rehabilitation Foundations]]
[[Category:Professional Skills]]