Auditorium Presentation

Experiences with a Knowledge-Based Tutoring System for Student Education in Rheumatology

Stefan Schewe
Medizinische Poliklinik, University Munich

Abstract:

A knowledge based tutorial computer system in rheumatology had been integrated in a standard course of internal medicine for students in their fourth year of medical curriculum. A total of 82 students were asked their opinion about the case based computer system over a period of four years (22 students in the winter term 94/95, 19 in the summer term 95, 27 in the summer term 97 and 14 students in the summer term 98). The students visited the course two weeks in groups of two to three twice a week. On the first day a real patient with rheumatic complaints has been presented. Like in other disciplines of the course the students took the medical history by themselves, examined the patient with the aid of the professor and discussed the diagnostic problems with him. The following second day of each week this patient has been presented on the computer with a standardized medical history and the results of all medical examinations and has been discussed further. After this the students had to solve another case.

A questionnaire had been asked to give the students opinion on an ordinal scale between 0 (very negative judgement) and 10 (maximal positive judgement). The position of rheumatology in their studying was rated now 6.6 ± 1.7 and 6.2 ± 2.1 in their future profession. With the computer program they judged their own improvement in knowledge from 3.1 ± 1.4 to 5.7 ± 1.5, a significant difference. The usability of the program for self-studying at home (7.3 ± 2.6) was significantly higher than on a PC at the university (5.0 ± 2.7). Over the four years a nearly identical and significant positive judgement had been given about a computer program making sense for studying, learning of diagnostic skills, learning motivation, improvement of knowledge, aid for professors in teaching, independent thinking etc. On the other hand the students had technical problems handling the program on CD-ROM at home. The idea of replacing the professor by the program had been totally rejected.

Further development of the program as an integrated part of medical education is demanded not only for students but also for physicians in their practical service. First experiences regarding this approach will be presented.

Benefit in Attending Session:

We demonstrate a method to integrate a computer program in Rheumatology in a regular course of practical management of patients in Internal Medicine. A few years of experience clarified the problems and benefits of such a device. We recommend our knowledge based computer program as a possibility to teach medical students without loosing the very important personal contact between students and patients.

Stefan Schewe MD
Medizinische Poliklinik
University Munich
Pettenkoferstr. 8a
80336 Munich, Germany
 
+89/51603511
Fax Number: 
+89/51603420
schewe@pk-i.med.uni-muenchen.de
www.med.uni-muenchen.de/rheuma
 
Tina Reinhardt, Christian Betz
Department of Informatics VI
University Wuerzburg
Am Hubland
97074 Wuerzburg
 
+931/705610
Fax Number(s):
+931/7056120
reinhardt@informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de
web: ki.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de