Abstract: Objective To understand the current situation and characteristics of critical thinking of first-year postgraduate students in clinical medicine of Fudan University, to guide the curriculum design and teaching model reform better. Methods All the first-year clinical postgraduate students in our school were investigated by Chinese version of critical thinking disposition inventory (CTDI-CV). Total of 372 valid questionnaires were collected. Results The result showed that the average scores for CTDI-CV was 298.25±30.52. It was positive critical thinking disposition. The seven components showed positive critical thinking disposition also. But the score in truth seeking, systematization ability, critical thinking self-confidence were low. There was no different of total score between male and female students (t=1.57, P>0.05). Conclusions The results indicate that the critical thinking ability of postgraduate students of clinical medicine is still to be enhanced. The critical thinking characteristics of different type of students are different. Their self-capability and open-mind consciousness is also different. It is very important to change the concept of teacher and to construct the self-direct learning model with student-centered in order to develop critical thinking in clinical medicine postgraduate.

Key words: Critical thinking, Postgraduate student, Clinical medicine, Current situation, Characteristics