Web-SP is a software package developed by our collaborators Uno Fors and Nabil Zary (and others) at Karolinska institue in Sweden. Below is a screenshot showing the patient interview section of a patient case.

Initial study results from a randomized cross-over pilot study of second year medical students show that using an online patient case may produce valid results. For the patient interview section of the exam, there is a suggestion of a significant correlation betweena students results on the Standardized Patient exam and the Case-Ex exam using the virtual patient. In addition, Case-Ex exam results for the patient interview section show a normal distribution. Student acceptance of this new mode of testing was high. These results will be presented at AMEE and e-Learn conferences later this fall.

The question we are exploring now is to see if there are differences in these results, and in student acceptance, between second year medical students and fourth year medical students. These most recent study sessions are gathering data for the fourth years. Initial results show that student acceptance of this mode of testing is much lower for fourth year medical students.

Stayed tuned for more, as results will be analyzed in the coming months!