There is broad agreement that skills in clinical reasoning are critical to addressing the complexities of current and future healthcare practices. Although there is no singularly agreed upon definition or approach to clinical reasoning, there is an understanding that it is multifaceted and incorporates an integration of knowledge and practice experience into a decision-making process. This introductory chapter provides a brief overview of the history of clinical reasoning, how it is conceptualized within the health professions and how clinical reasoning is aligned within occupational therapy education and practice.
