Special Topic of Methods of Information in Medicine on Intelligent Clinical Training Systems

Guest Editors: Peter Haddawy, PhD, Rebecca Crowley, MD, MSIS,
Parvati Dev, PhD, FACMI, Siriwan Suebnukarn, DDS, PhD

Submission Deadline: 31 October 2008

The development of clinical competence requires the assimilation of large amounts of knowledge combined with acquisition of clinical skills and clinical problem solving ability. Clinical skills include the technical skill in implementing a procedure as well as skill in patient consultation and physical examination.  Clinical problem solving requires the ability to synthesize the information contained in a clinical case and to integrate it with the physician's knowledge and experience in order to diagnose and manage the patient's problem. It also requires the ability to work in teams and the ability to transfer one's knowledge to unfamiliar situations such as rare problems, disasters and emergencies.

Currently, training toward clinical competence follows an apprenticeship approach, which consists of close expert supervision while interacting with patients. This method of training subjects patients to discomfort, risk of complications, and prolonged procedure times, creating a clinical governance dilemma. At the same time, there may be limited access to apprenticeship training in more complex scenarios with corresponding difficulty training in a time effective manner.

Recent advances in intelligent tutoring systems, simulation, and virtual reality techniques have enabled researchers to begin to build environments for effective training in clinical problem solving, clinical skills, and most importantly the combination of both.  This special issue of Methods of Information in Medicine is intended to highlight recent advances in these areas.  Topics include

• Intelligent systems for training in clinical reasoning, including intelligent tutoring systems and intelligent computer supported collaborative learning
• Patient simulations
• Image-guided surgical training
• Virtual reality environments for clinical skill training, including haptic interfaces
• Systems for training knowledge transfer to unfamiliar situations such as disasters and emergencies

We are most interested in papers that address both cognitive reasoning and physical skill aspects of clinical training.

Queries: Any questions regarding this Special Topic may be sent to haddawy@ait.ac.th or ssiriwan@tu.ac.th.

Submissions: Manuscripts should be submitted to the Special Topic Manuscript Management System (http://www2.medcomp.comp.nus.edu.sg/ojs/index.php/mim-icts) no later than 31 October 2008. Please follow the Methods of Information in Medicine instructions for authors available on the journal web site (http://www.methods-online.com). Submissions will undergo standard peer review. Papers judged inappropriate for the Special Topic may be considered for publication in a regular issue of the Methods of Information in Medicine.