DPS student instruction
In the Dynamic Patient Simulator (DPS) a computer can simulate a patient. The state of the patient changes in time and is expressed in symptoms. The student can check these symptoms and can influence them by applying therapy.
DPS has multiple purposes:
- Encouraging the student to chose by introducing point of decision
- Expanding knowledge and training attitude of the students
- Testing students medical competence
- Integration of basic skills in the clinic
DPS provides students with the opportunity to diagnose and treat a patient independently. Examination can exist of taking a medical history, physical examination, additional examination and laboratory. The student can select any examination through free requests or through buttons. Through the buttons the questioning and physical examination is carried out automatically for a whole tract and will take a realistic amount of time. Short requests therefore are preferred.
In the field under 'Your requests' free text can be submitted, followed by
Use short words, no sentences or articles.
| Examples of right and wrong usage of free requests | |
| Wrong | Right |
| Percussion of the hartdimensions | Percussion thorax |
| Survey picture of the belly | Picture abdomen |
| Mearuring Leucocytes ammount in blood | Leucocytes |
DPS recognizes the requests by synonyms, text- and sound recognition. If your request is not recognized perfectly, you will get a list of suggestions to chose from.
For example the request
will result in the following suggestions:
| Questions, physical examination | Measures and lab | Therapy and consultations |
| Pain in the chest | Ibuprofen 1000 mg | |
| Pain with breathing | Diclofenac 100 mg | |
| Pain in the back | Paracetamol 500 mg | |
| Bain in the belly |
By clicking with the mouse on one of the suggestions your request will be submitted.
The result of all the requests will appear on the screen. This can be either in the form of text, pictures or movies. All information is automatically added at the bottom of to the patient chart.
The chart can be reviewed by clicking on the Chart button. You can always go back to the last text by clicking on the Back button.
Requests that take up a lot of time, will not be carried out immediately, but will be put in a Request list. This list is found under the button Requests. Comment of the author is linked to some request. During simulation you are allowed to view these comments by clicking the Comment button.
You might want to speed up time. This is possible, but you can never go back in time again. On top of the DPS screen and behind every request in the waiting list there are buttons. With these buttons you can speed up time by 1, 10, 30 and 60 minutes. It is even possible to make a new appointment after weeks, months or years, by clicking on the calendar.
Each case has a defined ending, which is different for every case. Some cases will end when a patient is cured with the right treatment, or has died by the wrong treatment. Other cases and after a certain amount of time of requesting certain examination. Sometimes it might not be clear when the case will and and it is up to you to plan follow up meetings for the patient and keep track of the medical state.
At the end of a case you will get a score (build up constructed of positive and negative points), followed by a review.
At all times you can see your score up till now by pressing the score button. Printing of the chart is started by clicking the print button.
You can always leave the case without finishing it by clicking the exit button.