[Simulated cases and Minitel: a tool for the studying prescriptions]

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Informatics
• Clinical Decision-Making

Context:

• Fictional case histories are valuable tools in medical research and education.
• The Minitel telematic system in France offered a platform for applying these tools.
• Physician engagement with digital case histories was explored.

Purpose:

• To assess the utility of fictional case histories delivered via the Minitel system.
• To evaluate physician responses and decision-making in a simulated clinical environment.
• To determine the effectiveness of this method for quality control and postgraduate teaching.

Summary:

• Thirty-nine physicians responded to 9 fictional case histories using Minitel.
• Only 24.2% of 1,518 decisions matched anticipated or expected answers.
• Non-valid response rates ranged significantly from 37.0% to 99.1%.

Impact:

• Highlights potential for using digital fictional cases in medical research.
• Identifies challenges in achieving expected responses, indicating areas for curriculum improvement.
• Suggests utility for evaluating clinical judgment and identifying educational needs in postgraduate medical training.