Engel, Heather (2020) Diagnostic Processing and Working Memory in Australian General Practitioners: A Translational Study. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
The extent to which working memory is involved in diagnostic processing for general practitioners is an area with little published empirical research. With an ageing general practitioner workforce in Australia, this study aims to confirm the speed-accuracy trade-off between time to complete a diagnostic processing task and accuracy; predict working memory span from diagnostic processing; and age effects on both working memory and diagnostic processing. Using data from 342 novice participants this cross-sectional study used the Digit-span Backward to measure working memory and a newly developed ECG Interpretation Task to measure diagnostic processing. Results were mixed with the speedaccuracy trade off being confirmed however with a small effect size; 14% of the variance in diagnostic processing predicting working memory and a medium effect size; less than 2% of the variance in age predicting diagnostic processing; and 14% of the variance in age predicting working memory with a medium effect size. As there is a paucity of research specific to general practitioners age and these cognitive functions this study shows that future research is needed to investigate this population. It is anticipated that results might provide stimulus for future research to determine if working memory training should be considered as a quality improvement and continuing professional development activity for Australian general practitioners.
|
Statistics for this ePrint Item |
| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Counselling (1 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2021) |
| Supervisors: | Michael Ireland; Grant Taylor |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 09 Jul 2025 06:25 |
| Last Modified: | 09 Jul 2025 06:25 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | General practitioners; primary health care; diagnostic processing; working memory; working memory capacity; working memory training; speed-accuracy trade off, age effects, ageing workforce, translational research, ECG interpretation, Digitspan Backward |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52303 |
Actions (login required)
 |
Archive Repository Staff Only |
