The learning app “Veterinary Medical Detectives” provides a future-oriented answer to the question of whether veterinary teaching can be more than analog and one-dimensional in 2024: With the help of this innovative learning app, veterinary students can solve practical, clinical cases without the critical gaze of pet owners *insiders or senior doctors* in the setting of a real veterinary clinic/practice. The aim of the app is to teach skills in clinical diagnostics and therapy “on-demand” and in a playful way. Whether in your own living room, the bathtub, the university campus or public transport: it has never been easier and more motivating to solve clinical cases in a casual and playful way and at the same time anchor practical and exam-relevant knowledge in the brain.
Clinical cases are presented with a preliminary report, corresponding findings, clinical and imaging images and, depending on the case, audio material. The users select general and specific examination steps, initiate imaging measures and sample taking and thus work their way to making a diagnosis and ultimately choosing the appropriate therapy. Different difficulty levels also ensure long-term playing and learning fun.
To ensure that the playful nature is not achieved at the expense of clinical authenticity and practicality, all cases playable in the app are submitted exclusively by veterinarians and vet students who are currently in clinical training. These cases are then subjected to a final review and processing by our team of veterinarians and equipped with audiovisual material. In terms of content, the cases address clinical disciplines such as reproductive medicine, internal medicine or surgery.