Novice and Expert Comprehensive Reasoning about Infectious Disease

Abstract

Infectious disease has plagued humanity throughout history and the threat from infectious disease is still real. All healthcare providers and medical researchers need training that focuses on all components of infectious disease. Educators must help future healthcare professionals learn the value of comprehensive solutions to infectious disease problems. I have designed a case study based interview prompt to examine and describe the thought processes of novices and experts as they solve infectious disease problems. During the interviews both microbiology students (novices) and infectious disease professionals (experts) demonstrated comprehensive thinking about an infectious disease problem. This research is the first step in developing a methodology to identify comprehensive thinking about infectious disease problems. Further research will help educators to create classroom environments that encourage students to practice thinking comprehensively about infectious disease.