Integration of multimedia components into the models of treatment and diagnostic process in patients and clinical diagnostic tasks in cardiology

Introduction. Integration of multimedia results of diagnostic examinations into the information model of diagnostic and treatment process makes it possible to teach medical decision-making taking into account all available information about the patient.Aim. The purpose of this work was to use multimedia results of instrumental examination methods to form and verify the level of effective diagnostic decision-making.Material and Methods. A significant array of multimedia information arising in the course of treatment and diagnostic process was derived from databases of diagnostic units and was important for medical decision-making. The model was supplemented with clinically and demographically relevant studies of other patients when necessary. The multimedia components were integrated into the virtual simulations with two different trajectories of information presentation to the trainees depending on the purpose of further use.Results. At the first stage of the project, the multimedia components were integrated into linear models of completed cases to demonstrate medical decisions to the trainees. The multimedia components were presented as the fragments of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, echocardiography and vascular ultrasound recordings, scanned electrocardiograms (ECG), angiography results, X-ray images, tomograms, and results of other visualization methods of patient examination. Each multimedia file was accompanied by a textual conclusion made by a relevant specialist. At the second stage, the multimedia components were integrated into the models with a branched trajectory of information presentation. The course of disease and the patient’s condition could change depending on the decisions made, which means that there are alternative scenarios of the therapeutic and diagnostic process unlike the real invariant treatment of the patient. This possibility is especially important for the formation of medical decision-making competencies in safe conditions of simulation. To elaborate clinical diagnostic tasks, the authors developed a rating system quantifying the effectiveness of the decisions.Discussion. Building physician competencies in the educational process through repeated decision-making under changing conditions is crucially important for the health and lives of patients and can be effectively implemented using simulation technologies. Web access to this content is strategically important for the use of virtual patients with multimedia diagnostic results to practice decision-making skills in clinical disciplines.