Usefulness of a PC-Based Digitalized Recording System for Cystoscopy in Medical Education

Multimedia can be used to understand the basic anatomy and pathological features of the bladder, providing more intuitive knowledge than traditional education methods. Cystoscopy is one of the most fundamental and important diagnostic procedures for detecting pathology in the bladder. Thus, we developed a PC-based digitalized recording device and electronic document to create an electronic medical record to perform cystoscopy and used them for medical education.

To share them with an educatee, cystoscopic images from a camera unit were shown on the monitor of a personal computer, which was installed with an interface device with an S-VHS input. With these cystoscopic images, the operator could provide some information on important structures in the bladder, such as bilateral ureteral orifices, the verumontanum and the trigone to the educatee. Also, simple questionnaires were given to medical students to evaluate the effectiveness and value of this system.

Cystoscopic images could be transferred to the monitor with considerable ease and quality through the personal computer. This system was effective and valuable in teaching the normal anatomy and pathology of the bladder. Also, based on the results of the questionnaire, we concluded that this system provides high-quality images that are sufficient to relay medical information and is superior to traditional methods with regard to educational effectiveness and increasing one's understanding of medical diseases.

The PC-based recording system for cystoscopy substitutes for commercial recording devices for medical purposes, and provides sufficient medical information to medical students to allow them to understand the normal anatomy and pathological structure of the bladder.