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Table 10 Design solutions for improving the next implementation

From: Evaluating medical student engagement during virtual patient simulations: a sequential, mixed methods study

Issue category

Note

Design solution

Excessive Text

There is still too much text on the page, and there are extraneous review pages.

Streamline the cases

Time Constraints

20 min was not long enough to finish certain cases.

Provide the option to continue beyond 20 min.

Case Content

Medical content must fully align with content taught during the week in large group.

Continue to refine the cases to match specifics of large group content.

Case Format

Some of the VPS cases are still too lengthy and complex. Some of the feedback should be more specific.

Require cases be submitted months ahead for a review process. Ensure that they adhere to style guidelines.

Medical Record

Improve the patient history notes or provide students with access to the patient’s cumulative record.

Add a more realistic EMR that appears at regular intervals.

Activity format

When three triads are in one small group room, the sound of video media is too loud.

Student triads should meet in separate spaces or be able to listen via headphones.

Individual Play

Some students indicated that they want to complete the case individually.

Provide a library of cases on the learning management system (LMS) for individual practice after the peer-collaborative in-class activity.

Accessibility

Tutors expressed a wish for the VPS to be accessible through the LMS.

Integrate VPS with LMS.

Case Frequency

First year responses from a cohort receiving more than 20 VPS was less enthusiastic than those receiving only four VPS in the first semester. Tutors request a maximum of one VPS per class period, and not more than two per month.

These data suggest that about six VPS per semester might be acceptable to both faculty and students.