Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://dx.doi.org/10.25673/115219
Title: Development and evaluation of a software system for medical students to teach and practice anamnestic interviews with virtual patient avatars
Author(s): Lippitsch, Antonia
Steglich, Jonas
Ludwig, Christiane
Kellner, JulianeLook up in the Integrated Authority File of the German National Library
Hempel, LinnLook up in the Integrated Authority File of the German National Library
Stoevesandt, DietrichLook up in the Integrated Authority File of the German National Library
Thews, Oliver
Issue Date: 2024
Type: Article
Language: English
Abstract: Background and Objectives: Taking a medical history is a core competence of the diagnostic process. At the beginning of their study medical students need to learn and practice the necessary techniques, initially focusing on good structuring and completeness. For this purpose, an interactive software system (ViPATalk) was developed in which the student can train to pose questions to virtual patient avatars in free conversation. At the end, the student receives feedback on the completeness of the questioning and an explanation of the essential items. The use of this software was compared to the traditional format of student role play in a randomized trial. Methods: The central component of ViPATalk is a chatbot based on the AI language AIML, which generates an appropriate answer based on keywords in the student's question. To enable a realistic use, the student can enter the question via microphone (speech-to-text) and the answer generated by the chatbot is presented as a short video sequence, where the avatar is generated from a real image. Here, the transition between the sequences is seamless, resulting in a continuous movement of the avatar during the conversation. Results: The learning success by practicing with ViPATalk was tested in an anamnestic interview with actors as simulated patients. The completeness of the conversation was evaluated with regard to numerous aspects and also certain behaviors during the conversation. These results were compared with those after practicing using peer role play. Conclusions: It was found that practicing with ViPATalk was mostly equivalent to the students' role play. In the subsequent survey of the students, the wish was expressed that the ViPATalk software should also be used as an online tool for self-study and that there should be more cases for practicing.
URI: https://opendata.uni-halle.de//handle/1981185920/117175
http://dx.doi.org/10.25673/115219
Open Access: Open access publication
License: (CC BY-NC 4.0) Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0(CC BY-NC 4.0) Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0
Journal Title: Computer methods and programs in biomedicine
Publisher: Elsevier
Publisher Place: Amsterdam
Volume: 244
Original Publication: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2023.107964
Appears in Collections:Open Access Publikationen der MLU

Files in This Item:
File Description SizeFormat 
1-s2.0-S0169260723006302-main.pdf1.15 MBAdobe PDFThumbnail
View/Open