Virtual patients: a critical literature review and proposed next steps.

CONTEXT The opposing forces of increased training expectations and reduced training resources have greatly impacted health professions education. Virtual patients (VPs), which take the form of interactive computer-based clinical scenarios, may help to reconcile this paradox. METHODS We summarise res...

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Publicado en:Medical Education Vol. 43; no. 4; pp. 303 - 312
Autores principales: Cook DA, Triola MM
Formato: review tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Wiley-Blackwell Apr2009
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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        atl: Virtual patients: a critical literature review and proposed next steps.
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        au:
          Cook DA
          Triola MM
        affil: Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
      sug:
        subj:
          Education, Medical Trends
          Patient Simulation
          Teaching Methods Evaluation
          Critical Thinking Education
          Education, Competency-Based
          Professional-Patient Relations Education
      ab: CONTEXT The opposing forces of increased training expectations and reduced training resources have greatly impacted health professions education. Virtual patients (VPs), which take the form of interactive computer-based clinical scenarios, may help to reconcile this paradox. METHODS We summarise research on VPs, highlight the spectrum of potential variation and identify an agenda for future research. We also critically consider the role of VPs in the educational armamentarium. RESULTS We propose that VPs' most unique and cost-effective function is to facilitate and assess the development of clinical reasoning. Clinical reasoning in experts involves a nonanalytical process that matures through deliberate practice with multiple and varied clinical cases. Virtual patients are ideally suited to this task. Virtual patients can also be used in learner assessment, but scoring rubrics should emphasise non-analytical clinical reasoning rather than completeness of information or algorithmic approaches. Potential variations in VP design are practically limitless, yet few studies have rigorously explored design issues. More research is needed to inform instructional design and curricular integration. CONCLUSIONS Virtual patients should be designed and used to promote clinical reasoning skills. More research is needed to inform how to effectively use VPs.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        review
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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