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VIRTUAL PATIENTS IN UNDERGRADUATE SURGERY EDUCATION: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY

  1. Javad H. Vash†,*,
  2. Masud Yunesian‡,
  3. Mohammad Shariati§,
  4. Amir Keshvari,
  5. Iraj Harirchi‖

Article first published online: 30 JAN 2007

DOI: 10.1111/j.1445-2197.2006.03978.x

Issue

ANZ Journal of Surgery

ANZ Journal of Surgery

Volume 77, Issue 1-2, pages 54–59, January/February 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

Vash, J. H., Yunesian, M., Shariati, M., Keshvari, A. and Harirchi, I. (2007), VIRTUAL PATIENTS IN UNDERGRADUATE SURGERY EDUCATION: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 77: 54–59. doi: 10.1111/j.1445-2197.2006.03978.x

Author Information

  1. * Academic Centre for Education, Culture and Research, and † School of Public Health and Centre for Environmental Research, and ‡ Education Development Centre, and § Department of Surgery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    J. H. Vash MDM. Yunesian MD, PhDM. Shariati MDA. Keshvari MDI. Harirchi MD.

*Dr Javad H. Vash, Academic Centre for Education, Culture and Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, PO Box 14155-6615 Tehran, Iran. Email: j_homayounvash@razi.tums.ac.ir

  1. J. H. Vash MD; M. Yunesian MD, PhD; M. Shariati MD; A. Keshvari MD; I. Harirchi MD.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 30 JAN 2007
  2. Article first published online: 30 JAN 2007
  3. Accepted for publication 29 September 2006.

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Keywords:

  • clinical clerkship;
  • computer-assisted instruction;
  • randomized controlled trials;
  • user–computer interface

Background:  This study aims to clarify the effects of implementing a series of virtual patients in undergraduate surgery education on various dimensions of skills as applied to clinical problems.

Methods:  In a randomized controlled trial 48 surgery clerks were assigned to an intervention group who worked on 14 simulated cases of abdominal pain during 7 weeks in a computer lab and a control group without access to software. At the end of the intervention, both groups were tested by a structured, seven-part paper-based exam evaluating certain areas of competence.

Results:  Forty-five students took the exam. Results showed a significant improvement in history taking (P < 0.001) and no improvement in scores related to appropriate use of radiology and lab tests, proposing differential diagnoses and management plans and factual knowledge. From the intervention group, 20 students completed a virtual case exam whose results had a poor correlation with the written exam.

Conclusion:  Overall, our findings indicate that virtual patients are strong tools in enhancing history-taking skills of students, but they do not affect other areas of competence significantly. Educators are recommended to be sceptical about enthusiastic reports on various computer applications and avoid falling into false expectations of their implementation.

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