Virtual Patient Case #2: Mrs. Dubois - Chief Diagnosis: Breast Cancer

Abstract This resource contains the virtual patient case of Mrs. Esther DuBois, a geriatric patient diagnosed with breast cancer. This case is part of a series of virtual patient cases designed to allow facilitators to demonstrate care for an aging population. This case provides past medical history, family history, social history, and current medications for Mrs. Dubois. Appropriate radiographic images and assessment results are provided as needed. One- to three-minute long video clips depicting the patient as she ages over a 15-25 year span are also included, and these clips have been explicitly designed to limit references to specific treatments (e.g., medications) or other aspects of care that may be time-limited. A technical manual with instructions on how to administer the module is also provided. In this case, Mrs. DuBois initially presents as a healthy 70-year-old black woman in for her annual health maintenance examination. She is a recent widow, has some indigestion, chronic constipation, arthritis, and a family history of breast cancer. Over time she develops breast cancer which is treated but returns approximately 5 years later. Unique digital resources available in this publication include histology, radiographics, and color images of breast cancer nodules. Documents describing doctor interactions with the patient and family are also provided. The flexibility and quality of virtual patient resources such as these has been attested to by both basic science and clinical faculty to enhance core curriculum lectures. This resource may also serve as problem-based core case (since facilitators access resources in response to learner questions/issues during the tutorial), an e-learning application, and, in aggregated form, a longitudinal presentation of a geriatric patient. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these resources is dependent on the creativity of faculty who determine what, how, and when the resources are incorporated into new and/or established curriculum.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC

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