title: A pilot study to integrate an immersive virtual patient with a breast complaint and breast examination simulator into a surgery clerkship.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed to determine if an immersive virtual patient (VP) with a breast complaint and a breast mannequin could prepare third-year medical students for history-taking (HT) and clinical breast examination (CBE) on a real patient.
  
  
  METHODS
  After standardized instruction in breast HT and CBE, students (n = 21) were randomized to either an interaction with a VP (experimental) or to no VP interaction (control) before seeing a real patient with a breast complaint. Participants completed baseline and exit surveys to assess confidence regarding their HT and CBE skills.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Students reported greater confidence in their HT (Delta value = 1.05 +/- 1.28, P < .05) and CBE skills (Delta value = 1.14 +/- .91, P < .05) and less anxiety when performing a CBE (Delta value = -.76 +/- 1.10, P < .05). The VP intervention group had a significantly higher mean HT confidence than the control group at the conclusion of the study (4.27 +/- .47 vs 3.50 +/- .71, respectively, P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A single interaction with a VP with a breast complaint and breast mannequin improves student confidence in breast HT during a surgery clerkship.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Medical College of Georgia, School of Medicine, 1120 15th St., Augusta, GA 30912, USA.
authors.forename: Adeline M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Deladisma
authors.forename: Mamta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kotranza
authors.forename: James G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Bittner
authors.forename: Toufic
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imam
authors.forename: Dayna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Swinson
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gucwa
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nesbit
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lok
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pugh
authors.forename: D Scott
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lind
mesh_terms: D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002982:Clinical Clerkship; D003198:Computer Simulation; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014584:User-Computer Interface