Text-based case-studies have been one of the mainstays of problem-based learning in Utrecht. However they do not always provide a realistic and holistic depiction of patients and their narratives. Videos on the other hand are a better tool for this purpose. Following successful piloting, we want to use more videos with patient narratives for Pharmacology teaching. The goal of the project is to enlarge and diversify the story library of medication use.

Background

Problem-based learning, one of the major methods of teaching in the undergraduate medical curriculum is also used to teach Pharmacology. In this method, students are introduced to a medical problem, perhaps a case-study with subsequent questions directed at teaching underlying (bio)medical concepts. The employed case-studies are mostly text-based which often lacks authenticity when depicting patient narratives. Videos on the other hand, provide a more holistic depiction of the patient and his immediate surrounding (1).

Project description

A pilot has been conducted to use patient narratives for educational purpose in September 2021 for the Medicine course Vorm & Functie. Based on the experience of this pilot, a protocol has been developed to streamline the process of selecting, approaching and filming of videos. This project aims to increase the number of videos in the library by interviewing a diverse patient population.

For this project a student assistant, ideally in the masters phase of the study (4 hours/ week, 8 months) will be employed to approach, interview and film patients on their use of medications. These interviews will be ideally home-visits to give an idea of the patient’s illness and its impact. The content of the interview will be discussed with the patients, patient-teacher and the pharmacologist. We aim to include eight to ten patient videos (approximately 1 video per month) in this video library. An essential list of disorders used in Pharmacology education (2) will guide patient recruitment. Prior informed consent to use videos for educational purposes will be obtained from all patients.

Aims

In the current project the aim is to build the video bank ‘the story library of medication use’ to facilitate learning of pharmacology-related topics.

Results

Eight to ten videos with patients and their narratives primarily on medication use which could be used teaching Pharmacology. These videos would stimulate direct engagement of patients in the undergraduate medical education, giving patients the freedom to decide the content and extent of their narratives, therefore benefitting these patients. Furthermore, other programs could use these videos as well. They could be implemented in pharmacology teaching in (bio)medical curricula.

References

1. De Leng, Bas, Dolmans, Dhjm, Wiel, Mwj, Muijtjens, Amm, Van der Vleuten, C. How video cases should be used as authentic stimuli in problem‐based medical education. Med. Educ. 41, 181–88 (2007).

2. Jansen, B. H. E. et al. Essential diseases in prescribing: A national Delphi study towards a core curriculum in pharmacotherapy education. Br. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 84, 2645–2650 (2018).