A case-based examination system with multiple answer paths

A case-based examination system with multiple answer paths
Andrzej Kononowicz1, Marta Żabińska-Popiela2,
Irena Roterman-Konieczna1, Józef Krzysiek2
1
Department of Bioinformatics and Telemedicine, Collegium Medicum Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
2
Department of Gynecological Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
Questions do not depend on the students’ answers of proceeding questions in
traditional multiple choice tests. This approach is especially not appropriate in case-based
examinations, where the student of medicine should learn, how to deal with the real patients’
cases. The modern computer-supported examination systems in medicine resemble a situation
in which student makes a decision on each step of case-oriented therapeutic path. A selection
of incorrect decision may lead the student far away from the appropriate treatment path.
A graph-model representing multipath-tests is adopted in our system. A serious
problem in building multipath-tests is the amount of work for the model creation. The
complexity of the model may be reduced by merging different paths. We also consider the
possibility of automatic import of clinical paths into examination models.
A web application for case-based examinations (multipath examination in midwifery)
will be presented. Applied models can be stored in XML format with possibility of their
exchange. An editor for examination models creation will also be presented.
We believe that case-based examinations with multiple paths will improve the quality
of assessments in medicine. Exchangeable examination models will help to simplify the
creation of these tests.