Learning diagnostic skills with a computer (as illustrated bydiagnosis of pulmonary artery thromboembolism)

Aim. To elaborate an innovating computer learning system allowing experienced doctors to share their
knowledge with beginning physicians; to apply a computer expert system in teaching interns to detect
pulmonary artery thromboembolism (PAT) with emphasis on PAT risk factors and symptoms, on fixation of diagnostic skills.
Material and methods. The latest achievements in the field of artificial intellect served the basis for
design of OSTELA educational computer system which operates with decisive rules of a highly skilled
cardiologist. In this system interns study PAT diagnosis without a direct contact of the teacher with a
learner. The computer system and its operation are described.
Results. Skills of PAT diagnosis were taught to 48 interns. The number of correct answers to the control test increased by 30%, on the average.
Conclusion. The proposed computer learning system OSTELA was successfully tried in clinics (pilot
trials) and is recommended for postgraduate education of physicians.

pulmonary artery thromboembolism, computer educational system, declarative knowledge, procedure knowledge, subcontious education, expert knowledge base, doctor expert, clinical situation, decisive rule, feedback