Modernizing Clinical Training Through Case-Based Learning

In today’s dynamic healthcare environment, clinical skills training must be adapted to real-world challenges and practical. Our company is leading this change by providing healthcare professionals with an interactive app — the Nobula Case Creator — that supports the development of clinical skills. Our mission is to facilitate learning through real-life examples, simulating the challenges medical professionals face every day. In other words, through case-based learning.

Case Study: A Patient with Headaches

To present real data, we collaborated with a neurology specialist to create a case study and shared it with general practitioners via the E-medikus.com portal. In October 2024, nearly 300 participants accessed the case, but as the questions progressed, a dropout occurred, and we based the results on responses from 200 participants.

  • Useful Information: Nobula Case Creator is cloud-based and available on demand, allowing users to access it from any device, anytime, anywhere.

Participants were introduced to a 22-year-old woman, previously healthy, working as a nurse, who visits her family doctor’s office. During the medical history, they learn that she is seeing the doctor due to a headache, which she rates as 8 out of 10 on the pain scale. Additionally, she is sensitive to light, has no double vision, and self-help methods have not provided relief. She had similar headaches before, lasting about three hours, but in recent months, they occur seven to eight times a month. When making a preliminary diagnosis, 60% of participants concluded it was psychosomatic, while one-third suspected a migraine. From this simple yet potentially complex complaint, participants were tasked with practicing a range of clinical decisions, including history-taking, diagnosis, and treatment.

On average, participants correctly answered 30% of the questions, clearly indicating the importance and need for clinical skills training.

But why is this important? The difference between traditional education and this approach lies in how participants actively engage. Instead of just reading or listening, they are drawn into the real process, exploring different scenarios in a safe environment. The feedback they receive helps them correct mistakes, preparing them for real-life challenges where there is no “second chance.”

Case-Based Learning

From an early age, we learn most effectively by modeling our environment, which sometimes involves learning the hard way. Our mission is to apply this in continuous medical education by simulating real cases to develop clinical skills. Here are a few reasons to use Nobula Case Creator:

  • Local Cases: By collaborating with local doctors, we enable healthcare professionals to learn about issues specific to our region.
  • Room for Error: Case branching and the ability to repeat scenarios allow participants to practice clinical skills in a safe environment.
  • Flexibility: All that’s needed for training is an internet connection, and learning can happen anytime and anywhere, on any device.
  • Interactivity: Learning outcomes through experience are long-lasting, and the interactivity, along with automatic feedback, is an added bonus.
  • Data: The results of the training provide a clear insight into the skills mastered and those that need further practice.

Added Value for Pharmaceutical Companies

While one-time training has its value, we believe the key strength lies in continuous education. With an annual subscription, you can reap long-term benefits, and we particularly recommend integration with CRM and/or LMS systems. In fact, long-term learning outcomes are more significant when training is repeated over time. Sometimes, a one-time training is sufficient, but our experience has shown that repeating the same topic through various cases over an extended period leaves a deeper impact on the audience.

Moreover, A/B testing is an excellent tool for assessing the effectiveness of your messages. For example, you can use the same important questions at two different times to evaluate which interventions yield better results. You might be surprised that sometimes a lecture is more effective than written content or vice versa. Additionally, trainings that involve field experts can provide an interactive experience. Ultimately, the greatest advantage of an annual subscription and integration lies in gathering individual user data. These data simplify segmentation and targeting, reducing the likelihood of futile visits and incorrect messages. Reach your users in a way that suits their needs, not with a generic approach.

This approach to experiential learning effectively simulates real challenges in medical practice. Healthcare professionals gain valuable experience without the pressure of real responsibility, and each piece of feedback contributes to their confidence and ability to respond correctly in real situations.

User Feedback

In the end, the survey results speak for themselves. Participants were asked to provide feedback, which is crucial for refining this educational approach. They were asked to rate the following aspects of the training on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree):

  • We are pleased that 90.65% of participants rated the training as enjoyable, with 70.76% giving it an excellent rating.
  • Almost all participants (94.15%) found this type of case-based learning educational, with 76.60% giving it the highest score.
  • The same percentage (94.15%) positively evaluated the interactivity of the training (very good 19.30%, excellent 74.85%).
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