Designing learning experiences that lead to critical thinking and enhanced clinical reasoning

Critical thinking is the foundation for clinical reasoning, and the relevance of both in today's practice arena cannot be emphasized enough. Burgeoning information, requirement of evidence-based practice, health care fiscal realities, and focus on outcomes are some of the driving forces for developing the right attitude and mastering these skills. Skills can be taught, and learned by the use of appropriate strategies and modeling. Science-driven occupational therapy practice requires developing a systematic approach to reasoning, theory-based practice, self-regulation, and correction of one's clinical reasoning through ongoing reflection. Additionally, the merit of using cases to conduct peer audits to assess consistency of clinical reasoning is discussed.