Evaluation of virtual patient cases for teaching diagnostic and management skills in internal medicine: a mixed methods study
Abstract Objective The virtual patient (VP) is a computer program that simulates real-life clinical scenarios and allows learners to make diagnostic and therapeutic decisions in a safe environment. Although many VP cases are available, few focus on junior trainees as their target audience. In additi...
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doaj-2ef5a9a7b07748b6979bd2c6873e4d362020-11-25T02:11:47ZengBMCBMC Research Notes1756-05002018-06-011111710.1186/s13104-018-3463-xEvaluation of virtual patient cases for teaching diagnostic and management skills in internal medicine: a mixed methods studySamira Jeimy0Jenny Yujing Wang1Lisa Richardson2Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Department of General Internal Medicine, Western UniversityDepartment of General Internal Medicine, University Health Network - Toronto General Hospital, University of TorontoDepartment of General Internal Medicine, University Health Network - Toronto General Hospital, University of TorontoAbstract Objective The virtual patient (VP) is a computer program that simulates real-life clinical scenarios and allows learners to make diagnostic and therapeutic decisions in a safe environment. Although many VP cases are available, few focus on junior trainees as their target audience. In addition, there is wide variability in trainees’ clinical rotation experiences, based on local practice and referral patterns, duty hour restrictions, and competing educational requirements. In order to standardize clinical exposure and improve trainees’ knowledge and perceived preparedness to manage core internal medicine cases, we developed a pool of VP cases to simulate common internal medicine presentations. We used quantitative and qualitative analyses to evaluate the effectiveness of one of our VP cases among medical trainees at University of Toronto. We also evaluated the role of VP cases in integrated teaching of non-medical expert competencies. Results Despite modest effects on knowledge acquisition, a majority of participants enjoyed using VP cases as a resource to help them prepare for and reinforce clinical experiences. Cognitive interactivity and repetitive practice were particularly appreciated by study participants. Trainees perceived VP cases as a useful resource as their learning can be customized to their actions within the case, resulting in unique learning trajectories.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13104-018-3463-xVirtual patientsMedical educationCanMEDSMedical curriculumInternal medicine |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Samira Jeimy Jenny Yujing Wang Lisa Richardson |
spellingShingle |
Samira Jeimy Jenny Yujing Wang Lisa Richardson Evaluation of virtual patient cases for teaching diagnostic and management skills in internal medicine: a mixed methods study BMC Research Notes Virtual patients Medical education CanMEDS Medical curriculum Internal medicine |
author_facet |
Samira Jeimy Jenny Yujing Wang Lisa Richardson |
author_sort |
Samira Jeimy |
title |
Evaluation of virtual patient cases for teaching diagnostic and management skills in internal medicine: a mixed methods study |
title_short |
Evaluation of virtual patient cases for teaching diagnostic and management skills in internal medicine: a mixed methods study |
title_full |
Evaluation of virtual patient cases for teaching diagnostic and management skills in internal medicine: a mixed methods study |
title_fullStr |
Evaluation of virtual patient cases for teaching diagnostic and management skills in internal medicine: a mixed methods study |
title_full_unstemmed |
Evaluation of virtual patient cases for teaching diagnostic and management skills in internal medicine: a mixed methods study |
title_sort |
evaluation of virtual patient cases for teaching diagnostic and management skills in internal medicine: a mixed methods study |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
BMC Research Notes |
issn |
1756-0500 |
publishDate |
2018-06-01 |
description |
Abstract Objective The virtual patient (VP) is a computer program that simulates real-life clinical scenarios and allows learners to make diagnostic and therapeutic decisions in a safe environment. Although many VP cases are available, few focus on junior trainees as their target audience. In addition, there is wide variability in trainees’ clinical rotation experiences, based on local practice and referral patterns, duty hour restrictions, and competing educational requirements. In order to standardize clinical exposure and improve trainees’ knowledge and perceived preparedness to manage core internal medicine cases, we developed a pool of VP cases to simulate common internal medicine presentations. We used quantitative and qualitative analyses to evaluate the effectiveness of one of our VP cases among medical trainees at University of Toronto. We also evaluated the role of VP cases in integrated teaching of non-medical expert competencies. Results Despite modest effects on knowledge acquisition, a majority of participants enjoyed using VP cases as a resource to help them prepare for and reinforce clinical experiences. Cognitive interactivity and repetitive practice were particularly appreciated by study participants. Trainees perceived VP cases as a useful resource as their learning can be customized to their actions within the case, resulting in unique learning trajectories. |
topic |
Virtual patients Medical education CanMEDS Medical curriculum Internal medicine |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13104-018-3463-x |
work_keys_str_mv |
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