Search

Ruth Coleman Wakerlin was one of the great leaders in the profession of medical illustration. She inspired her colleagues and students and set high standards for fellow administrators of medical illustration curricula. A tireless supporter of the Association of Medical Illustrators (AMI), Wakerlin believed that the medical illustrator is an integral member of a health-education team. She supported diversity among AMI members as well as AMI collaboration with other allied groups. She fought to elevate the profession in the eyes of institutional administrators. In 1995, Wakerlin wrote, "Change is the engine that drives the development of an organization to meet the challenges of the present and future." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The copperplates in Tabulae sceleti et musculorum corporis humani prepared by Jan Wandelaar for Bernard Siegfried Albinus established new production standards in anatomical illustration in the 18th century. The most famous engraving in the atlas depicts a fourth-order muscle man standing in front of the first anatomically correct depiction of a living rhinoceros to arrive in Europe. Wandelaar and Albinus immediately proclaimed the image as a symbol of their book, and engravings of Clara, the rhinoceros, were in the shops in Leiden five years before the book was published in 1747. The engraving acted as an advertisement for both the book and Clara's pending grand tour of Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel Iconic Pain Assessment Tool (IPAT) was created based on published literature on the visualization of pain and on feedback from patients who have Central Post-Stroke Pain (CPSP). Using visual pain icons and an intuitive online interface, patients can record multiple facets of their pain, including its quality, intensity, location on the body, and shifting throughout the day By improving dialogue and the translation of pain sensations from the patient to the physician, the IPAT has the potential to speed up accurate diagnosis and improve pain management for patients including those with limited cognitive or verbal abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To increase awareness of migraine diagnosis criteria among health professionals, we developed a prototype physician--patient interview video on DVD. Design methodology involved a needs assessment, two editing models (commentary interspersed vs. contiguous), and an evaluation with medical students, residents and primary care physicians. This evaluation assessed user preferences for the two editing models, and provided qualitative feedback for future development. Results established that respondents preferred the interspersed audio commentary over commentary appearing at the end of the video. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study examines whether instructional interactivity, specifically multiple choice questions, enhances online learning outcomes in teaching introductory principles of pharmacogenetics. A pilot online course, designed with three 2-D animated sections, was evaluated by fourteen practicing pharmacists using online questionnaires, pre- and post-tests and final evaluation feedback forms. It was expected that multiple-choice questions parsed between animated scenes would provoke contemplation and facilitate reflection and abstract thinking. The results failed to find a statistical difference between the test scores of those who viewed the linear, non-interactive program and those who viewed the interactive program with strategically placed multiple choice questions inserted between sections. While overall learning outcome did increase between both groups, only those who viewed the linear, non-interactive animated program scored significantly higher in the post-test compared to their pre-test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2004 expansion of the Biomedical Communications program at the University of Toronto at Mississauga provided new opportunities for inter-faculty teaching and re-conceptualization of the graduate curriculum, as well as professional practice outcomes. Collaboration between faculty from Biomedical Communications and the Department of Anthropology resulted in innovations in non-linear media design for forensic demonstrative evidence. Visual media experiments reinforced faculty collaboration that led to the expansion of an existing Medical Legal Visualization course, in the Master of Science in Biomedical Communications program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-drug regimens present many challenges to patients, especially to senior patients. This case study explores the communications difficulties and medication compliance difficulties experienced by a 90-year-old patient who suffered two heart attacks, and the resulting development of a visually-based medication organizer, PharmaPlanner, by researchers at the University of Toronto. The project included development of two Web-based applications, one to author a comprehensive database of vector-generated icons of prescription medications in Canada, and the other to assist pharmacists in the field construct custom, visual, drug-regimen organizers for clients. Project researchers tailored visual material for the cognitive abilities of the target patient population, ensuring that the maintainability, reusability, expandability and sustainability of the applications and data followed industry-standard, object-oriented design techniques. Target audience evaluation of visual material is employed to ensure effective design of the PharmaPlanner icons, menus, and interface. The Drug Identification Number (DIN), a unique identifier of drug forms and dosages, emerged as a crucial element in ensuring that prescriptions and their visual representations are accurately matched. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge building theory (Scardamalia & Bereiter, 2002) and Knowledge Forum(r), a Web-based, asynchronous, collaborative learning environment, were integrated in a face-to-face medical legal visualization course in the biomedical communications program at the University of Toronto (U of T). Iterative design critiques, new software tools, and the concept of building on ideas created a synergy of enhanced interactions and outcomes, resulting in idea innovation. The novel concept of "dynamic curriculum design" was introduced and found to support student efforts to advance the current edge of knowledge.

A prototype Web site, "HeadStart: a craniosynostosis and positional plagiocephaly resource," was developed to help parents of children with cranial abnormalities access information about their child's condition. An on-line survey of 30 parents confirmed the need for information regarding the early diagnosis and treatment of cranial abnormalities. Three methods of creating the illusion of 3-D in a 2-D interactive animation were investigated. The final prototype Web site was developed using a novel approach to rendering 3-D models for use on the Web using a non-photorealistic rendering technique which emulated a hand-drawn appearance. Many advantages were found when creating 2-D animations based on 3-D files. A formative evaluation with parents revealed that the 3-D feature added to their understanding of cranial structures and led to a more complete understanding of their child's condition. Although the small sample size limits the ability to generalize about the success of including 3-D elements in educational programs, the research demonstrated that involving parents in the development process was successful in prioritizing the program content to fit with their needs.

The Interpretive Visualization (IVIS) Group at the Division of Biomedical Communications, Dept. of Surgery, University of Toronto has developed a visually-oriented, Internet-based Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course on Sentinel Node Biopsy. The site design methodology involved an extensive needs assessment, iterative formative evaluations of site and media design, a summative evaluation of the project, and a final evaluation for certification. Special emphasis was placed on asynchronous Web-based evaluation of the visual media-including still images, animations, and interactive figures-used in the course. Results reinforced the importance of: needs assessment; a user-centered design process; and rapid prototyping.