The concept of a clinical round as a virtual, interactive web-based, e-learning model for interdisciplinary teaching.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Digital Health
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Background:

• Clinical case demonstrations are vital for medical and dental education.
• Limited availability of live patients with specific conditions poses a challenge for timely teaching.
• A flexible, accessible learning solution is needed to supplement traditional clinical training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a web-based, virtual e-learning concept for demonstrating patient case reports.
• To enable interactive diagnosis and interdisciplinary therapy decision-making for students.
• To provide a time- and place-independent learning environment for oral and maxillofacial diseases.

Main Methods:

• Digitized anonymized case reports from the oral and maxillofacial region into a web-based format.
• Utilized Flash modules, HTML, and Javascript for interactive content including videos and animations.
• Integrated a hierarchical decision system for differential diagnosis and a virtual 3D tutor for guidance.

Main Results:

• Developed a platform accessible across different operating systems and browsers.
• Enabled interactive learning with features like lip-synchronous speech output in 3D models.
• Included supplementary resources and a multimedia multiple-choice test for assessing learning outcomes.

Conclusions:

• The virtual e-learning concept effectively addresses the limitations of live patient availability in clinical education.
• The platform facilitates interactive learning, diagnosis, and interdisciplinary treatment planning for oral and maxillofacial conditions.
• This digital approach enhances medical and dental training by providing an objective and accessible educational tool.