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Cited by 77Simulation-Based Education in HealthcareInnovations in Medical EducationArtificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education

Experiencing virtual patients in clinical learning: a phenomenological study

Edelbring, Samuel, Dastmalchi, Maryam, Hult, Håkan, Lundberg, Ingrid E., Dahlgren, Lars Owe·2011·Advances in Health Sciences Education
DOI 10.1007/s10459-010-9265-0
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Abstract

Computerised virtual patients (VPs) are increasingly being used in medical education. With more use of this technology, there is a need to increase the knowledge of students' experiences with VPs. The aim of the study was to elicit the nature of virtual patients in a clinical setting, taking the students' experience as a point of departure. Thirty-one students used VPs as a mandatory part of an early clinical rotation in rheumatology. Using the qualitative approach of phenomenology, we interviewed these students and then analysed data regarding their experiences of VPs as a learning activity. The result shows that students perceived VP activities in relation to actual patients, the clinical context and other learning activities. The VPs represented typical clinical cases which encouraged clinical reasoning and allowed for decision making. The students experienced the activities as integrating biomedical knowledge and clinical experience, providing structure that prepared for the unstructured clinical environment and patient encounters under unstressful conditions. However, the VPs were experienced as lacking the emotional interactivity and complexity of actual patients. Theoretical frameworks of clinical reasoning and experiential learning are suggested as foundations for further educational integration of VPs in the clinical environment. VP activities during clinical rotations provide experiences of clinical reality and allow students to solve problems actively. These features are dependent on VP technology but are also contingent on the surrounding environment.

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  • The virtual patient results in a valuable learning experience for the student, who at first has difficulties in asking questions, especially when it comes to sensitive issues or aspects relative to the patient's private life.

    “This results in a valuable learning experience for the student, who at first has difficulties in asking questions, especially when it comes to sensitive issues or aspects relative to the patient’s private life [22–24].”

    From The virtual patient as a learning tool: a mixed quantitative qualitative study (2018) · cites this paper as [22]

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Authors
Edelbring, S., Dastmalchi, M., Hult, H., Lundberg, I. E., & Dahlgren, L. O.
Affiliations
  • Karolinska Institutet (SE)
  • Karolinska University Hospital (SE)
  • Linköping University (SE)
Corresponding author
Edelbring, Samuel
ORCID
Venue
Advances in Health Sciences Education
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2011-06-09
Volume
16
Issue
3
Pages
331-345
ISSN
  • 1382-4996 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-1677
DOI
10.1007/s10459-010-9265-0
OpenAlex
W2058737387
Cited by
77
References
50
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 10 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 2
FWCI
2.18
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • Advances in Health Sciences Education (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Simulation-Based Education in Healthcare
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Innovations in Medical Education
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Health Informatics › Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education
Keywords
virtual patients, medical students, student experience, clinical reasoning, clinical rotations, rheumatology education, experiential learning, clinical decision-making, simulation-based training
MeSH terms
Clinical Competence, Computer-Assisted Instruction, Education, Medical, Continuing, Humans, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Learning, Problem Solving, Social Perception, Students, Medical, User-Computer Interface, Qualitative Research

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