How to Study and Think like a Doctor: Part 2

While researching the study methods for Part 1 (You can read it here!)

I stumbled upon a study method that I had not been familiar with.

But apparently, it has a very big impact on our education, careers as doctors and patients.

( Or skip the reading and get to studying directly at MedlyCase! )

So today, we are going to talk about something deeper and way more important than actually memorising drug names.

It is our ability to “think about thinking“ as doctors, so-called metacognition.

If there is one thing that you need to take away from this email, it is that this is NOT important for you, but for your patients, and it is the foundation of being a lifelong learner.

Let’s dive deep into metacognition!

Please let me know if this content is useful, fun, or if you have any suggestions by sending a quick message to [email protected] or @medlycase on Instagram.

It is knowing how you think, and by knowing how you think, detecting possible errors and possible shortcuts for better retention and learning.

Metacognition has two core components - knowledge and regulation based on that knowledge:

If we know how we retain and learn information the best (flashcards, teaching, lectures).

Then we can use this information to guide our studying - plan our studying, monitor our progress, and adjust along the way.

Let me give an example from myself.

Knowledge - I learn best by doing flashcards (HOW) and applying the knowledge (e.g., cases in medicine) (HOW).

Regulation - So I use a flashcard app + read cases (PLAN).

But once I realise I don’t understand a certain concept despite the information on the flashcard, I opt for another resource or ask my teachers (ADJUST).

I actively monitor myself by doing MCQ and MedlyCase Exam Mode (MONITOR)

I am also aware of my pitfalls (I have many!!!). I have a hard time understanding the cascade of events (like in Endocrinology), but I understand more concrete surgical strategies easily. So I naturally tend to spend more time studying endocrinology rather than general surgery.

If you find this useful and interesting, why not try some of our cases in MedlyCase and challenge yourself? Here is the link!

Metacognition is very useful while studying, BUT it is critical when we practice medicine, especially for patient safety.

Because it allows us to reduce the mistakes that can happen due to faulty knowledge, biases, and overconfidence.

Metacognition in clinical practice again consists of awareness of our knowledge and regulating our thinking.

Here is an example in action from my own practice.

If I had not been aware of my pitfall, I might have mistakenly given the wrong dose.

In the clinical environment, metacognition directly translates to diagnostic humility. It's the habit of asking:

This is essentially metacognition applied in real time at the bedside, and it's a core component of avoiding cognitive errors, and more on them below

If you want to practice improving your metacognition in a safe environment, why don’t you just try a case in MedlyCase, and while you are doing the case, ask yourself questions such as “Is this the final diagnosis? “Am I missing out on anything“ “Where could I be making a mistake?

If you are unsure where to start, feel free to email me at [email protected], and we can practice together!

So now that we have covered the importance of metacognition, let’s see how we can implement it into your studying regime.

We will divide studying into two parts, depending on the knowledge: theoretical knowledge and clinical/practical knowledge

This section is all about the theoretical parts — pharmacology, pathophysiology, anatomy, and biochemistry.

You need to personalise your studying routine.

For your own thoughts.

The core habit is active self-monitoring while you study. This means continuously asking yourself: "Do I actually understand this, or does it just look familiar?"

Here are some actionable steps:

The evidence also supports personalizing your approach based on your own metacognitive profile.

This is exactly what I do myself —- spending more time on endocrinology because I know cascades are my weak point, using Anki because I know active recall works for me, using MedlyCase to monitor whether my knowledge actually transfers to application.

In my opinion, this is the section where things get very important. I cannot stress out how important this is when you are facing a REAL patient in a real clinical setting.

It is not only studying, but also the foundation of being a good doctor.

Here is how to do it according to the latest science.

1. Deliberate Reflection — Pause and Question Yourself

After working through a clinical case or seeing a patient, don't just move on.

Pause and ask yourself: "What was my initial impression? Was I right? What could I have missed? What evidence pushed me toward that conclusion?"

This is the strategy with the strongest evidence behind it.

Research shows that guided reflection - systematically reviewing your reasoning, considering alternatives, and challenging your assumptions - directly improves diagnostic accuracy and reduces cognitive errors.

In practice, this could look like: after finishing a case on MedlyCase or seeing a patient in the clinic, spending 2–3 minutes thinking or writing what you got wrong, but why your reasoning went in the direction it did, and what you can do to improve.

2. Metacognitive Checklists -Structure Your Self-Monitoring

When working through clinical cases, structured checklists help prevent premature closure, which is the bias of settling on an answer too early.

One example from the literature is the TWED mnemonic, which prompts you to systematically review your reasoning during history-taking and examination.

I did not know the literature behind this until researching this article. But I use this a lot in the Emergency Room in my practice, and I am glad the habit was formed by my university.

3. Self-Explanation and Concept Mapping — Build Deeper Understanding

When you encounter a concept you're struggling with, try explaining it out loud as if teaching someone else.

This forces you to identify exactly where your understanding breaks down.

Concept mapping (visually connecting related ideas) is useful for topics like endocrinology, where understanding cascades of events is the challenge.

What a long essay!

Thank you for reading, and I hope you found it interesting and useful. If you would like to train your metacognition in a safe environment, head to Medlycase.com or drop me an email at [email protected], and we can do it together.