DIGITAL LIBRARY
USE OF SOFTWARE FOR TOXICOLOGY DIAGNOSTIC TO IMPROVE THE TEACHING QUALITY IN PRACTICAL CLASSES
1 University Complutense of Madrid (SPAIN)
2 University Alfonso X (SPAIN)
About this paper:
Appears in: INTED2013 Proceedings
Publication year: 2013
Page: 3552 (abstract only)
ISBN: 978-84-616-2661-8
ISSN: 2340-1079
Conference name: 7th International Technology, Education and Development Conference
Dates: 4-5 March, 2013
Location: Valencia, Spain
Abstract:
The establishment of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) is trying to change the modalities of learning from lecture to other alternatives that are based on new Information and Communications Technologies (ICT). The use of ICT in education can easily develop key aspects of the EHEA, such as transparency and quality in learning, global assessment of student work and finally and perhaps most important, student autonomy.

In clinical toxicology, the differential diagnostic is critical because of the existence of many pathological processes that present similar signs and symptoms to different intoxication and also to different poisonings hence it is needed powerful tools that help the clinician to differentiate them. It is estimated that in 15% of cases, the clinical diagnostics are performed incorrectly. To improve the way of diagnostic, we have developed a program for the toxicological diagnostic in order to improve teaching practice of students in addition to serving as support in subsequent clinical practice to avoid the incorrect diagnostic.

The software has a comprehensive database that includes various diagnostic probabilities. The information entered in the program it is not a clinical diagnosis but also, clinical findings. Consequently, no matter that the clinic does not know a particular diagnosis, as the software will announce the possibility of disease or poisoning not considered. Generating a list of differential diagnoses can avoid confirmation bias. Finally, the inclusion of atypical processes excludes the error of representativeness

The aim of this project is to provide tools for the differential diagnosis in Toxicology.
At the end of the program the student is able to:
- Understand the mechanism of analytic differential diagnostic
- Use the methodology to differentiate the symptoms from different intoxications.
- Improve the abilities to rule out serious pathology presenting signs and symptoms occurring cases
- Improve the skills of selecting the most relevant complementary test for clinical decision in the intoxications analyzed, with cost-effectiveness criteria.

When making a diagnosis, the use of software may be useful to increase the accuracy and efficiency and help the physician avoid cognitive errors.
Keywords:
ICT, Toxicology Diagnostic Software.