MEDICAL EDUCATION INFORMATICS Dr. Ali M. Hadianfard Faculty member of AJUMS

Further reading Biomedical Informatics-Computer Applications in Health Care and Biomedicine, Edward H. Shortliffe, James J. Cimino, 3rd Ed., 2006 (chapter 21). Information Technology for the Practicing Physician, Joan M. Kiel, 2001 (chapter 6).

Computer in medical education The application of computer technology to education is often referred to as: Computer Assisted Learning Computer-based Education (CBE) Computer-aided Instruction (CAI)

Advantages of Using Computers in Medical Education  Vast storage capacity  Providing quick access to reference  Multimedia capabilities such as images, atlas, sounds, video clips, three-dimensional environment, and interactive teaching modules  “Any time, any place, any pace” learning becomes practical.  Be individualized and interactive; the learner is able to proceed at his or her own pace, independent of the larger group.  By placing the student in simulated clinical situations, or in a simulated examination, a computer-based teaching program can exercise the student’s knowledge and decision-making capabilities in a nonthreatening environment.  Well-constructed computer-based learning can be enjoyable and engaging, maintaining the interest of the student.

Computer-Based Learning Methods Drill and Practice: Teaching material is presented to the student, and the student is evaluated immediately via multiple-choice questions. The computer grades the selected answers and, based on the accuracy of the response, repeats the teaching material, or allows the student to progress to new material. Didactic: The Lecture: A professor can choose to record a lecture and to store, on the computer, the digitized video of the lecture as well as the related slides or other teaching material. This approach has the advantage that relevant background or remedial material can also be made available through links at specific points in the lecture. Discrimination Learning: Is the process that teaches the student to differentiate between the different clinical manifestations. A computer program, through a series of examples of increasing complexity, can train the student to detect the subtle differences.

Computer-Based Learning Methods - continue Exploration: Programs create an exploratory environment in which students can experiment without guidance or interference. Constrained: Students are free to query the program and to specify actions using unconstrained natural language. Construction Simulation: Simulation programs may be either static or dynamic. Under the static simulation model, each case presents a patient who has a predefined problem and set of characteristics. Dynamic simulation programs simulate changes in patient state over time and in response to students’ therapeutic decisions. Feedback and Guidance Intelligent Tutoring Systems

Why patient education? o Medications o Home treatments o Precautions o Referrals and follow-up o Illustrations