Evaluation of the Web-based Critical Thinking Software: Diagnostic Reasoning Clinician in Ramathibodi's Medical Curriculum
Keywords:
Evaluation, Web-based software, Computer program, DxR clinician, Patient simulation, Teaching toolAbstract
Introduction: Clinical reasoning skills are essential for problem-solving process for medical students. DxR Clinician, a web-based critical thinking software, is a computerized case series, in which students learn to gather and interpret data, generate hypotheses and make decisions to solve patient problems. This study aimed to evaluate students' perceptions and satisfactions of DxR Clinician software in the fifth-year medical students at Ramathibodi Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mahidol University. Bangkok., Thailand.
Methods: The questionnaires consisted of 33 questions (Likert scale 1-5) with an open response section which were developed to explore students' perceptions and satisfactions of the program. The respondents were 116 medical students who used the computer-based program to practice clinical reasoning skills in family medicine rotation. The data were analyzed by using SPSS program, version 11.5.
Results: Students were found to high satisfaction in the area of feasibility in the use of the program, ability of this program to support the students' clinical reasoning skills and clinical learning. However, they evaluated low satisfaction in term of the ability to stimulate self-directed learning after practicing the program.
Conclusions: The web-based software can be used as an effective educational tool for students to improve their diagnostic skills and refine their knowledge base.
Key words: evaluation, Web-based software, computer program, DxR clinician, patient simulation, teaching tool
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