• Saniya Raghib Sabzwari, Sidra Ishaque, Shahjahan Jabbar Memon, and Saba Iqbal Musharrif.
• Department of Family Medicine, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
• J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2023 Apr 1; 33 (4): 457459457-459.

ObjectiveTo create virtual patients as an educational tool to determine their feasibility and effectiveness in clinical problem solving.Study DesignCross-sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from 2018 to 2021.MethodologyPrototype virtual patients were developed at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, for medical trainees. Articulate Storyline 360 software was used for creating clinical encounters. Undergraduate students and postgraduate trainees were selected using purposive sampling to practice on these virtual patients (VPs). They were asked to provide feedback on the construction and usefulness of virtual patients as a learning modality.ResultsTwo VPs were created and used. The geriatric VP was used for the assessment of final-year students. Twenty-five students gave detailed feedback after completion. Most (90%) agreed that the VP provided realistic scenarios and improved clinical reasoning. Almost five identified the need to improve navigational instructions. The pediatric VP for postgraduate trainees was well received. Almost 90% reported that it facilitated learning and improved knowledge and clinical reasoning. There was a 30% increase in post-test scores, supporting it as an adjunct resource for clinical learning.ConclusionVirtual patients can be easily created using local disease patterns to make learning more contextual. They enhance clinical reasoning and decision-making in a safe learning environment.   Key Words: Medical education, Virtual patients, e-learning.

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