Using Patient Management Problem (EPMP) in Assessment of Clinical Competency

Introduction: In recent decades integration of pedagogic and technologic approaches resulted in a change in main structure of universities. Appearance and utility of electronic education especially in assessment system and examinations of medical students, necessitates designing new assessment methods and tools. This study is to discuss and design EPMP software as an appropriate tool for measurement of the ability in students’ clinical reasoning and problem solving. Methods: Regarding the structure of PMP examination, this software was designed in form of a three layer object generated using program C language and visual studio.Net with software base of SQL server 2000 as well as Ajax software to promote user interface (UI) to be used as an internet explorer IEO6. Results: This soft ware represents patients’ problem in form of some text hints and fixed and animated pictures through simulation and then with some questions, lets the student or assistant follow up patients’ management and treatment. Conclusion: Because of the consistency of the designed software with international standards, this was welcomed by faculty members and assistants in university level and board of examinations. Assistants’ survey results showed their desire to hold these examinations with more frequencies within their education period and the potentiality to enable them to work with computer more skillfully.