[Use of the computer in teaching rheumatology. Trial application in the diagnosis of an adult polyarthritis]. / Utilisation de l'ordinateur pour l'enseignement en rhumatologie. Essai d'application au diagnostic d'une polyarthrite de l'adulte.

The immense possibilities offered by the computer can be utilized in medical education, through a free dialogue between the student and the machine thanks to a terminal. A diagnostic simulation program has been carried out in diagnosing adult polyarthritis. This program neccesitates an analysis of diagnostic behavior and, on this basis, the preparing of a diagnostic tree or graph. The reasons leading to the plan adopted in constructing the graph, are discussed. Cases of increasing difficulty are proposed to the student, who must follow the course plan in order to arrive at a diagnosis. This teaching method, applied for thing pedagogical advantages both for the teacher and the student. The operating cost seems reasonable.