Physicians' Reported Use of Mental Images and Language in Clinical Reasoning

This study compares the reported results of family physicians' and surgeons' uses of nonverbal images, as well as language, in examining and treating (operating) patients. Similar, but slightly different, questionnaires were mailed to random samples of 300 academic family physicians and surgeons. The response rate from family physicians was 54% and from surgeons 56%. Different types of mental imagery, as well as language, were reported as common and useful. Surgeons reported significantly higher ratings for frequency and use of 7 of the 12 items. Overall, gender and years of practice did not make significant differences. Physicians of two widely differing specialties report using mental images of various modalities to examine, treat, or operate on patients. These self-reports point up the importance of studying nonverbal mental representations. Much basic research is needed to describe the precise nature of mental images and their uses in clinical reasoning.