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A systematic review of insight and reflection in post graduate medical education

Great literature synthesis on reflection.


"We present a novel description of a hierarchy from discrete episodes of reflection, to cyclic processes that involve reflection, through to a state in which the practitioner is reflective. There is no unified understanding of how an individual ascends this hierarchy, or a cohesive description of what insight is for an independent medical practitioner. This review highlights the need for research into how practicing clinicians conceptualize and characterize insight in their training and practice."


Episodic reflection - e.g. a debrief session after a simulation, or identifying personal learning needs for CME

Cyclic reflection - e.g. reactive to feedback, or proactive as part of a quality improvement process

Reflection as a state - e.g. a state that could evolve if episodic or cyclic reflection became internalised and unconscious


"Despite this comprehensive review of literature our questions remain largely unanswered. The literature does not clearly evidence that either insight or a reflective state can be taught. It implies that insight is an essential quality, but before there is further entrenchment of reflection into post graduate medical education more work is needed to elucidate how insight is manifested and whether it can be developed."


Source: onlinelibrary.wiley.com

reflection insight state literature cyclic episodic g reflective