Mrs. Fisher Tells Her Story: An Interactive Web-based Learning Tool to Assist Medical Students with History Taking and Case Report Writing Skills.

Joyce Nyhof-Young, John Bradley, Ronald Macdonald, Hance Clarke,Errol Colak
Faculty of Medicine University of Toronto, Canada

The Art and Science of Clinical Medicine (ASCM 1) at the University of Toronto, Canada teaches traditional medical history taking and physical examination skills. Students develop the verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills necessary to obtain appropriate information from patients and to effectively document the information. A need exists for a creative and comprehensive educational resource allowing students to develop and assess their knowledge of patient history taking through the use of a student/patient interview. This innovative, web-based curriculum includes: a videotaped interview between a medical student and standardized patient; lessons on effective history taking; and opportunities to practice and get feedback on case report write-ups.

The September 2001 iteration of the Web Site will include the introduction of physical skills modules currently under development at the University of Toronto. The first modules being produced this summer will teach students how to examine the chest, hip, and knee. Also added will be a "hotlink"; to a neurological physical skills unit recently developed for the web site of the first year medical course, Brain and Behavior. Finally, the addition of a module demonstrating the interaction between a typical group of students, a standardized patient, and a tutor will allow all students in the course (190), as well as tutors (92), to further grasp the concept(s) of PBL teaching/ learning as it relates to the course. The present module";Social History"; is being expanded to include a section on Occupational History.

As demand for such Web-based learning grows in medical education, so too does the need for systematic evaluations of these new learning environments. User feedback is proving to be a valuable resource for on-going program development and evaluation. This presentation concludes with a discussion of our formative, beta-testing evaluation strategy.

1. To understand how and why a Web Site and Internet technology can be utilized to teach history taking and case report writing skills to undergraduate medical students.

2. To understand the challenges and successes involved in initiating and maintaining a web-based learning tool for medical students.

3. To understand the iterative, formative evaluative process involved in the production of a Web Site used to teach history taking and case report writing skills to undergraduate medical students

4. To describe the interdisciplinary collaboration involved in developing and evaluating such a Web Site.

Dr. Joyce Nyhof-Young
Princess Margaret Hospital 5-312
610 University Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
CANADA M5G 2M9
Phone: (416) 946-4501 X 5838
Fax: (416) 946-4442
Email: joyce.nyhof-young@uhn.on.ca

CO-AUTHORS:

Dr. John Bradley
The Toronto General Hospital Room 3E-423
585 University Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
CANADA M5G 2C4
Phone: (416) 340-4800 X 3417
Fax: (416) 340-3698
Email: john.bradley@uhn.on.ca