Impact of a Student-Driven, Virtual Patient Application on Objective Structured Clinical Examination Performance:...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Digital Health
• Peer-Assisted Learning

Background:

• Peer-assisted learning (PAL) traditionally involves students teaching each other.
• A student organization developed a collaborative virtual patient platform for digital PAL.
• The platform facilitates paired medical interviews with automated scoring and feedback.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the pedagogical impact of a virtual patient platform on medical student performance.
• To assess the association between using the platform and Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) scores.

Main Methods:

• Measured platform usage (cases completed, scores) in the 2 months prior to OSCE.
• Analyzed the correlation between platform use and OSCE medical interview station results.
• Collected student feedback on the application's usability and features.

Main Results:

• 82.5% of students used the platform, completing 3133 cases.
• Users reported reduced stress and appreciated the platform's design and feedback.
• Platform use correlated with improved OSCE scores (P=.04) and passing rates (P=.11).

Conclusions:

• Student-created digital tools can significantly enhance peer-assisted learning.
• The virtual patient platform demonstrated a positive impact on clinical skills assessment.
• This highlights the potential for students to develop effective pedagogical resources for their peers.