Evaluation of the role of experience in the accuracy of "Gut feelings" among general practitioners in clinical decision-making

Yasmine Zaouche, Karim Tazrouts, Matthieu Schuers, Marie Barais

Keywords: Gut Feelings, decision making, experience, general practice

Background:

The Gut Feelings is a known concept among general practitioners (GP). Its diagnostic value and role in the prevention of error have been shown in multiple studies. It raised from the interaction of the practitioner’s knowledge and his experience. Nevertheless, the role of the experience is not well established.

Research questions:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of experience on the Gut Feeling’s accuracy among GPs.

Method:

"EGFGP study" was a quantitative, transversal and multicentric study. Experienced GPs and trainees on their first year of internship were asked to fill in the GFQ questionnaire after reading 12 case vignettes. Theses case vignettes were the same as those used in the construct validation of the GFQ. The primary endpoint was the GFQ score evaluation error for each case vignette between the two groups. The secondary endpoint was the care procedure (?) proposed by the participant for each case vignette.

Results:

130 trainees and 58 GPs completed the program, representing 2256 questionnaires. The analysis revealed no statistically significant difference of the GFQ response scores between the two groups (p=0.14). There was no statistically significant difference of the care procedure proposed by the participants for each case vignette (p=0.15)

Conclusions:

The role of experience in the accuracy of the Gut Feelings has not been shown in this study. The main limitation is that the number of subjects required was not reached, resulting in a lack of statistical power.

Points for discussion:

how do you think your gut feelings is or was constructed?

What is the role of your experience in your gut feelings?

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