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

The demonstration of patient case reports in the course of a clinical round is an essential part of teaching medicine and dentistry. However, suitable live patients with particular problems are not always available at a time when teaching is taking place. This project therefore had the objective of establishing a web-based, virtual e-learning concept for demonstrating case reports independent of time and place, with the possibility of an interactive examination, diagnosis, and interdisciplinary therapy decision making for medical and dental students. Anonymized case reports of diseases in the oral and maxillofacial region and the interdisciplinary treatment were digitized and prepared in a web-based format. The technical aspect was based on connecting flash modules with videos and animation, and monitoring through HTML and Javascript. Due to the modular concept and the programming used, the learning environment was independent of platform and open. Independent formats (.swf, .avi, .mpeg, etc.) were integrated into the individual modules. According to a hierarchic decision system, the user was guided interactively to the diagnosis through a differential diagnostic exclusion process. Sound was digitized and integrated in mp3 compressed form in the 3D models for lip-synchronous speech output. The speech output was connected with a virtual 3D tutor that acted in an advisory capacity in reaching a diagnosis and determining therapy. Further sources of information and literature with abstracts or pdf files of the subject-related publications were inserted to ensure that the teaching was objective. To conclude the virtual clinical round, a check on learning success was conducted in the form of a multimedia multiple choice test.