MedCase – an online tool for medical learning <b>[Abstract in English]</b>

Abstract

Aims: To describe an educational software which promotes medical self-directed learning through an online tool for clinical case studies. Methods: We describe the step-by-step design of this new educational software developed to assist medical learning. During a four-month period, computer professionals followed the current medical education routine of Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Medicina do Rio Grande do Sul, guided by medical professors and students. Then, the educational software called MedCase was built by this group, based in free softwares with open codes or open sources software. Results: The complete software, except imaging and graphic results, is already available online to the medical community. It provides all steps to self-directed learning to solve a clinical case and is found on http://www.pucrs.br/famed/medcase. Conclusions: Considering the new tendencies in modern education, we believe this software will provide a very interesting environment both to medical students and professors, stimulating the current medical practice and unraveling the solutions to the most prevalent medical conditions in our community. KEYWORDS: EDUCATION, MEDICAL/methods; HEALTH EDUCATION; CASE STUDIES; MEDICAL INFORMATICS; SOFTWARE VALIDATION.