The Influence of Task Instruction and Lab Data Format on Clinical Case Recall.

In the present study, task instruction and lab data format were manipulated to explain the discrepancy between the positive linear recall function with expertise (reported by van de Wiel and others, 1993), and the generally found intermediate effect in clinical case recall. Sixteen second-year medical students, 16 fourth-year students, and 16 internists studied, diagnosed, and recalled four clinical cases. No differences were found between intentional and incidental recall instructions or between cases with numerical and interpreted lab data. Diagnostic accuracy increased with the level of expertise. The overall recall data showed again the intermediate effect. Reanalysis of the 1993 data suggests that the linear recall function was caused by the experts' motivation. Four figures, two tables, and one appendix describing a case of heart failure with two kinds of lab data are included. (Contains 10 references.) (Author/SLD)