COMPETENCIES TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT IN PATHOLOGY AND
LABORATORY MEDICINE USING PATIENT SIMULATIONS
Fred Dee*, Clarence
Kreiter, Christopher Goerdt, Timothy Leaven and Thomas Haugen. University of
PURPOSE
A novel web-based computer-assisted
patient simulation (LabCAPS)
has been designed to foster evidence-based use of laboratory resources and
reduction in unnecessary costs. The simulation’s
ability to generate valid and reliable scoring of performance is crucial to its
educational and assessment role.
METHODS
LabCAPS is created in a MySQL
database. Perl-CGI scripting dynamically
generates the simulations, and serves them over the web. When a new case is
entered, a web-based editor allows entry of history and physical findings. Default normal results of 431 tests,
procedures, and images can then be changed for each individual case to abnormal
by the case editor. When cases are
engaged the LabCAPS web interface allows the trainee to sequential order and interpret tests
and procedures through several encounters, and arrive at a diagnosis, all from
check-box menus. To develop a scoring
key for comparison with trainee’s responses, experts engage the simulations. The resultant electronically generated scoring
key is based on the proportion of experts selecting responses, with
disagreements adjudicated around evidence-based guidelines.
RESULTS
There are
currently forty cases. Medical students in
our Pathology Course rated three LabCAPS prototype units as the first, second, and fourth
best units among 17 more traditional units. Formative
evaluations and reliability and validity studies of LabCAPS are underway in our
Laboratory Medicine Course.
CONCLUSION/FUTURE DIRECTIONS
Computer assisted
simulations are expensive to develop and score.
This project, supported by a grant from the National Library of
Medicine, investigates methodologies designed to significantly reduce the cost
of both case development and scoring.