Visual thinking strategies enhance clinical observation skills in medical and nursing students: an experimental study

Good observation skills are crucial for accurate diagnosis. We evaluated Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS), an art-based teaching method, on medical students' observation skills via randomized controlled trials with 92 undergraduates and 78 graduates. One group attended VTS sessions led by art t...

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Main Authors: Yanying Chen, Jiahua Li, Xue Zeng, Junxiang Chen, Yuhui Wang, Zixie Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-08-01
Series:Cogent Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2542651
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author Yanying Chen
Jiahua Li
Xue Zeng
Junxiang Chen
Yuhui Wang
Zixie Chen
author_facet Yanying Chen
Jiahua Li
Xue Zeng
Junxiang Chen
Yuhui Wang
Zixie Chen
author_sort Yanying Chen
collection DOAJ
description Good observation skills are crucial for accurate diagnosis. We evaluated Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS), an art-based teaching method, on medical students' observation skills via randomized controlled trials with 92 undergraduates and 78 graduates. One group attended VTS sessions led by art teachers; the other received traditional nursing education. Post-course tests revealed VTS significantly improved clinical observation scores (F=23.49, p<0.01), with graduates outperforming undergraduates (F=56.58, p<0.01). A notable interaction between VTS and knowledge background was found (F=107.7, p<0.05). VTS, even outside art museums, effectively enhances medical students' observation skills through visual art training..
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series Cogent Education
spelling doaj-art-4be666f6b70a48879fc9d7d8683682cb2025-08-20T03:03:57ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Education2331-186X2025-08-0112110.1080/2331186X.2025.2542651Visual thinking strategies enhance clinical observation skills in medical and nursing students: an experimental studyYanying Chen0Jiahua Li1Xue Zeng2Junxiang Chen3Yuhui Wang4Zixie Chen5School of Architecture and Art, Central South University, Changsha, ChinaSchool of Architecture and Art, Central South University, Changsha, ChinaSchool of Architecture and Art, Central South University, Changsha, ChinaNursing School of Xiangya, Central South University, Changsha, ChinaSchool of Architecture and Art, Central South University, Changsha, ChinaSchool of Architecture and Art, Central South University, Changsha, ChinaGood observation skills are crucial for accurate diagnosis. We evaluated Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS), an art-based teaching method, on medical students' observation skills via randomized controlled trials with 92 undergraduates and 78 graduates. One group attended VTS sessions led by art teachers; the other received traditional nursing education. Post-course tests revealed VTS significantly improved clinical observation scores (F=23.49, p<0.01), with graduates outperforming undergraduates (F=56.58, p<0.01). A notable interaction between VTS and knowledge background was found (F=107.7, p<0.05). VTS, even outside art museums, effectively enhances medical students' observation skills through visual art training..https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2542651Clinical observationVTSmedical trainingvisual artscritical thinking50.7.27.5 Study Skills
spellingShingle Yanying Chen
Jiahua Li
Xue Zeng
Junxiang Chen
Yuhui Wang
Zixie Chen
Visual thinking strategies enhance clinical observation skills in medical and nursing students: an experimental study
Cogent Education
Clinical observation
VTS
medical training
visual arts
critical thinking
50.7.27.5 Study Skills
title Visual thinking strategies enhance clinical observation skills in medical and nursing students: an experimental study
title_full Visual thinking strategies enhance clinical observation skills in medical and nursing students: an experimental study
title_fullStr Visual thinking strategies enhance clinical observation skills in medical and nursing students: an experimental study
title_full_unstemmed Visual thinking strategies enhance clinical observation skills in medical and nursing students: an experimental study
title_short Visual thinking strategies enhance clinical observation skills in medical and nursing students: an experimental study
title_sort visual thinking strategies enhance clinical observation skills in medical and nursing students an experimental study
topic Clinical observation
VTS
medical training
visual arts
critical thinking
50.7.27.5 Study Skills
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2542651
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