Female obesity and infertility.

Infertility affects one in seven couples, and its rate is on the increase. Ovulatory defects and unexplained causes account for >50% of infertile aetiologies. It is postulated that a significant proportion of these cases are either directly or indirectly related to obesity.

Cognitive elements in clinical decision-making: toward a cognitive model for medical education and understanding clinical reasoning.

Physician cognition, metacognition and affect may have an impact upon the quality of clinical reasoning. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between measures of physician metacognition and affect and patient outcomes in obstetric practice. Reflective coping (RC), proactive coping, need for cognition (NFC), tolerance for ambiguity, state-trait anxiety and metacognitive awareness were assessed for obstetricians (n = 12) who provided intra-partum care to 4,149 women.

In pursuit of expertise. Toward an educational model for expertise development.

Firstly, the many characteristics of expertise are examined: they include aspects of pattern recognition, knowledge, skill, flexibility, metacognitive monitoring, available cognitive space and teaching abilities. Secondly, three educational models from different domains (Nursing, Surgical Education, Education) are analysed, compared and contrasted, in relation to both educational approach and the development of expertise. Thirdly, a new model for the development of expertise is proposed, incorporating aspects of each of the three previously discussed models.