Virtual patient

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The term virtual patient is used to describe interactive computer simulations used in health care education^[1] to train students on clinical processes such as making diagnoses and therapeutic decisions.^[2] Virtual patients attempt to combine modern technologies and game-based learning to facilitate education, and complement real clinical training.^[3] The use of virtual patients is increasing in healthcare due to increased demand for healthcare professionals and education of healthcare trainees, and provides learners with a safe practice environment.^[2] There are many formats from which a virtual patient may be chosen, but the overarching principle is that of interactivity. Virtual patients typically have mechanisms where information is parsed out in response to the learners, simulating how patients respond to different treatments. Interactivity can be created with questions, specific decision-making tasks, as well as text composition, and it is non-sequential. Most systems provide quantitative and qualitative feedback.^{[citation needed]} In some cases, virtual patients are not full simulations themselves, but are mainly based on paper-based cases. This is because they do not allow for physical examination or an in-depth medical history of an actual patient.^[4] There are certain drawbacks, as crucial clinical findings may be missed due to the lack of examining patients in person.