A pilot study to integrate an immersive virtual patient with a breast complaint and breast examination simulator into a surgery clerkship.
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.
Deladisma
Adeline M
AM
Department of Surgery, Medical College of Georgia, School of Medicine, 1120 15th St., Augusta, GA 30912, USA.
Gupta
Mamta
M
Kotranza
Aaron
A
Bittner
James G
JG
Imam
Toufic
T
Swinson
Dayna
D
Gucwa
Angela
A
Nesbit
Robert
R
Lok
Benjamin
B
Pugh
Carla
C
Lind
D Scott
DS
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