Application of combining virtual case with standardized patient in neurological clerkship teaching

Objective To evaluate the effect of combine virtual case with standardized patient in neurological clerkship teaching. Methods 127 undergraduates majoring in clinical medicine of grade 2014 in the First Clinical College of Dalian Medical University were divided into two groups randomly, combining virtual cases with standardized patients group (n=63) and traditional teaching group (n=64), respectively carrying out the neurological clerkship teaching. Test and questionnaire results are collected and the results are compared. Results Total scores of combining virtual cases with standardized patients group was significantly higher than the traditional teaching group (85.52±3.78 vs 80.56±4.52, t=-6.704, P=0.000). This method acquired great popularity among the students and is helping in increasing the interest of study, self-learning ability, clinical reasoning, basic theories comprehension and the confidence in future clinical work(P<0.05). Conclusions This study has achieved better practical effect by using virtual cases and standardized patients in neurological clerkship, and got higher evaluation by students than the traditional method. Key words: Virtual case; Standardized patient; Neurology; Clerkship teaching