Development and implementation of a computer-generated “virtual” patient program

Authors

  • J. L. Marriott Department of Pharmacy Practice, Victorian College of Pharmacy, Monash University, Parkville, Vic., Australia

Keywords:

Assessment, case-based, computer, pharmacy students, “virtual” patients

Abstract

Authentic assessment of clinical knowledge can be undertaken using case studies. Individual clinical case-study assignments for undergraduate pharmacy students have been developed using a purpose-designed computer program with “virtual patients” to whom a clinical scenario can be applied. The computer program contains over 200 virtual patients constructed using a defined database of medical conditions, medications and personal characteristics. The database is flexible; new patients can be developed from existing data and medications can be added and removed. Clinical scenarios can be added to the virtual patients according to pre-determined criteria.
The easy-to-administer program has been used to generate up to 360 individual student assignments. Development of student-specific assignments decreases the opportunity for plagiarism. The development of this program has provided quick and easy access to a valuable database of standardised virtual patients that is used to provide authentic assessment for undergraduate pharmacy students.

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How to Cite

Marriott, J. L. (2018). Development and implementation of a computer-generated “virtual” patient program. Pharmacy Education, 7(4). Retrieved from https://pharmacyeducation.fip.org/pharmacyeducation/article/view/164

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 4 (2007)

Section

Research Article

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