Is virtual the same as real? Medical students' experiences of a virtual patient.

Full Abstract

PURPOSE: Narrative and problem-solving versions of the same virtual patient's case were created for teaching communication skills to medical students. This qualitative study explored how students experienced the virtual patient. METHOD: In 1998-1999 in-depth, free-form interviews and follow-ups were conducted with 12 third-year medical students at Monash University in Australia. Students were asked about their experiences with the virtual patient. The interviews were qualitatively analyzed using psychological phenomenology. RESULTS: Results were in the form of a description of the students' lived experiences with the virtual patient. Findings indicated that students responded to the virtual patient as if she were real but they felt a simultaneous sense of prefabrication, which often led to frustration. Students' experiences of both versions were similar, but the narrative version permitted better rapport with the virtual patient. CONCLUSION: This phenomenological study indicated that a constructed, computer-based virtual patient can have substantial emotional effects on medical students.

Author information

Author/s: Bearman, Margaret (M);

Affiliation: Monash Institute of Health Services Research, Monash University, Clayton Victoria, Australia. margaret.bearman(-atsign-)med.monash.edu.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges (Acad Med), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-May; vol 78 (issue 5) : pp 538-45

Dates: Created 2003/05/13; Completed 2003/06/19; Revised 2007/11/15;

PMID: 12742794, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

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