The file formats for both multiple choice and case based are ASCII-based. The values for each question are delimited by colons. IF THERE IS COLONS IN THE TEXT, PLEASE REPLACE IT WITH ":"!
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CASE-BASED QUESTIONS
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For Case Based questions, each patient takes up it's own line (i.e. between each patient is a CrLf.)
Here is an example question:
Patient 4 Pt has not had a history of an MI, gout NKDA Meds: lasix, cardizem, glucotrol, digoxin, + Fam Hx: of CAD, DM:4:Your patient a 64 year old male with a chief complaint of chest pain radiating to the back and shoulder, exacerbated with exertion associated with shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting and diaphoresis. His past medical history is remarkable for Hypertension and psoriasis for which he is not getting any therapy. His VS are Pulse 78, BP 240/140. R= 14, Temp = 97.8 degrees Fahrenheit:You now decide to order laboratory tests:Your EKG and CXR has been done as is shown below:The Blood Pressure is now 170 / 82, the patient is now feeling better::Your initial therapy would be which of the following:Of the tests below which tests would be in the group ordered initially ?:Which of the following should be done next:Your disposition of this patient will now be::Oxygen 2 liters:IV access:Monitor:O2 saturation determination:Heparin SQ:CBC:Chem 7:PT / PTT:CT Abdomen:ESR:TPA:Propranolol:Nipride:Abdominal CT Scan:Brain CT:Refer to surgeon:TPA:Stress Testing in the morning:Discharge the patient:Consult Dermatology::::::T:T:T:T:F:T:T:T:F:F:F:T:T:T:F:T:F:F:F:F::::::::::::::::0
It looks a little more complicated than multiple choice, and it is. I will go through the colon-delimited values one-by-one.
(1) PATIENT HISTORY - The patient history.
(2) NUMBER OF ITEM GROUPS - In the example question, there is 4. That means there will be 1-5, 6-10, 11-15 and 16-20.
(3-7) ITEM DESCRIPTION - There are five item description spots. Only fill the ones you need. You'll note in the example question that the last one is empty, since we only need item groups 1-4.
(8-12) ITEM QUESTION - There are five item question spots. Same rules apply as the above.
(13-17, 18-22, 23-27, 28-32, 33-37) QUESTIONS - This is when it starts to get hellish. These are the true or false questions. Five per item group. Once again, leave the last one(s) blank if you don't need them.
(38-42, 43-47, 48-52, 53-58, 59-63) QUESTION ANSWERS - Hellish again... the answer for each question. True or false.
(64-68) PRE IMAGES - Pre images for each item group.
(69-73) POST IMAGES - Post images for each item group.
(74) CATEGORY - A number. The program loads an ascii file called "CATDATA" and finds the name that corresponds to the category number.
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CATEGORY DATA
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All you need is an example.
This would be the file data:
"Somethingology
Somethingelseology
ChuckNorrisology"
The first line is 0, the second is 1, the third is 2, etc.