Virtual patients

Virtual Patients are an interactive and engaging way to deliver a training topic to a large number of students or professionals, ensuring that each person has the opportunity to have the same learning experience. Our digital development team work closely with academics to ensure the cases are medically accurate and meet learning expectations. Each Virtual Patient scenario is developed based on a patient profile, history and a set of learning objectives. These determine whether multiple choice questions, free-text typing or somewhere in between is the most appropriate method of interacting with the patient.

Multiple choice scenarios are most well suited to structured consultations where the user may be unfamiliar with the source material, or the flow of conversation is important. Free text allows users more freedom to approach the conversation as they see fit, but usually requires a good level of knowledge of the type of interaction being engaged in. In both cases, changes in guidance or other factors relevant to the scenario can be updated quickly to ensure the cases remain relevant.

Virtual Patients have been in use on the Pharmacy UG course at Keele since 2008, supplementing simulated patients to help students practice vital communication skills, diagnosis and make treatment recommendations in safe environment. Virtual patients can deliver feedback appropriate to the learning objectives and based on the user’s specific choices. Forearmed with this knowledge, users can make further attempts at a scenario to explore new interactions and paths to an ideal consultation.

Whilst a number of our cases are held privately for use on courses at Keele and by clients, there are several that are freely accessible on your PC or mobile devices:

This virtual patient is designed with teaching in mind. If used in a lecture, the teacher may first go through the case in a sub-optimal way; using closed questions and not exploring Brian's views, which will result in prescribing the statin. In a more optimal run through the case, students should see the contrast in terms of the consequences of the different approaches. After the class, students are encouraged to explore the case for themselves. Feedback is delivered as written statements and can be downloaded as a pdf.

Note that this case will require some medical knowledge as it involves selecting blood test and prescribing treatments.

Unusually, this scenario takes place after an unspecified consultation has already taken place. Users can discuss various aspects of Julie's lifestyle and the effects it has on her health. While discussing each aspect, users may offer advice and materials to Julie in order

to help her manage her weight, drinking and smoking. Be careful however, not to overwhelm her.

This case uses a large volume of animated feedback delivered by the patient. The focus is strongly on soft-skills rather than medical knowledge and despite it's multiple-choice format, allows quite a lot of freedom in the way the consultation can be conducted.

The goal of this consultation is to gather information about Alan's medical history, discuss potential treatment options and come to a decision on future treatment. Ideally, users will have a productive discussion and learn about Alan's personal life and his feelings on the different options available. Of course, it's also possible to railroad him into a decision he may not be happy with.

This case is very conversational and is an interesting one to compare the outcomes between different medical professionals and even patients. The medical knowledge required is minimal, though there is some discussion about doses of painkillers for example.