Combinations in the first-line treatment of patients with advanced/metastatic renal cell cancer: regulatory aspects.

The therapeutic landscape in the treatment of advanced/metastatic renal cell cancer has evolved over the last 2 years with the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors. In 2018 and 2019, marketing authorisations valid throughout the European Union were issued for nivolumab and ipilimumab dual checkpoint inhibition and pembrolizumab or avelumab in combination with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor axitinib. These applications presented numerous regulatory challenges.

Virtual patient simulation: what do students make of it? A focus group study.

Background: The learners' perspectives on Virtual Patient Simulation systems (VPS) are quintessential to their successful development and implementation. Focus group interviews were conducted in order to explore the opinions of medical students on the educational use of a VPS, the Web-based Simulation of Patients application (Web-SP).

Methods: Two focus group interviews-each with 8 undergraduate students who had used Web-SP cases for learning and/or assessment as part of their Internal Medicine curriculum in 2007-were performed at the Faculty of Medicine of Universidad el Bosque (Bogota), in January 2008.

As time goes by: Stakeholder opinions on the implementation and use of a virtual patient simulation system.

Background: Stakeholder opinions on the implementation of a particular virtual patient application might prove important for decision-making and implementation efforts in general. This study aimed to capitalize on experiences originated from two post-implementation settings of Web-based Simulation of Patients (Web-SP).

Method: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of stakeholder opinions (39 students, teachers, course directors, and university leaders) on the implementation and use of Web-SP in Colombia and Sweden, using a mixed method approach.

Virtual patient simulation for learning and assessment: Superior results in comparison with regular course exams.

Background: Our study aimed to observe the differences in assessment results between virtual patient simulation (VPS) and regular course exams in an Internal Medicine course for undergraduate medical students.

Methods: Four cohorts of students (n = 216) used: a VPS or lectures for learning (terms 1 and 2); VPS and lectures or only lectures (term 3); and a paired set-up with both VPS and lectures (term 4). The assessment results, measured with both a VPS-based exam and a paper-based exam, were compared.

Virtual patient simulation: knowledge gain or knowledge loss?

Background: Virtual patients (VPs), high-fidelity simulators and standardized patients are powerful educational interventions leading to effective learning and supporting knowledge retention.

Aim: This study explored the variations in retention with VP versus regular learning activities.

Method: We conducted a randomized controlled study on early and delayed assessment results of 49 students using VP for learning and examination of haematology and cardiology topics in an Internal Medicine course, by means of a 0-10 scoring rubric.

Cross-cultural use and development of virtual patients.

Three major issues drive the cross-cultural use of virtual patients (VPs): an increased mobility of healthcare professionals, students and patients; limited resources for developing VPs; and emerging standards for the exchange of VPs across institutions. Many students are trained in countries other than where they were born. In addition, healthcare professionals often move between countries and are today meeting more and more patients from cultures different from their own.