R. Jared Weinfurtner MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Indravadan J. Patel MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Raj Mohan Paspulati MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Mark Richard Robbin MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

The current radiology elective at our institution and at many institutions involves medical students shadowing residents and attendings and listening to readout sessions in a largely passive role.  Our goal was to redesign the medical student curriculum to make it more interactive between the students, residents, and staff in an effort to improve teaching and learning.  

An anonymous, voluntary, needs-assessment , subjective survey was emailed to medical students who took the elective in the current form over the past 6 months. Results indicated areas of strength and weakness of the current elective. The new curriculum was then introduced based around a "case of the day" model in which each student was assigned a case to present each day.  The medical student would gather clinical information on the patient and, in some instances, see the patient on the medical ward. The medical student would then go over the radiology study with the resident and, finally, present the entire case to the attending. Discussion of the case would then follow. Survey data collection following implementation of the new curriculum was then performed.  

Only a small minority of medical students surveyed after the "traditional" radiology elective felt like an active part of the radiology team (22%).  After implementation of the new curriculum to address this need, 91% felt like an active part of the team.  This result was statistically significant (p<0.001).  Additionally, each survey question generated a more positive average response under the new elective, although these results were not statistically significant in the current study.  

The results of our study demonstrate that the implementation of a medical student radiology elective based around a “case of the day” model leads to improvement in medical student perception as active members of the radiology team.  It is hoped that this improvement in medical student active learning will translate into improvement in radiologic competency.  Positive evaluation of the “new” elective was demonstrated with a trend toward statistical significance in improved perception of radiology as a career choice as well as increased likelihood of recommending the elective to a fellow classmate.    

Implementation of a medical student radiology elective based around a “case of the day” model leads to improvement in medical student perception as active team members.

Weinfurtner, R, Patel, I, Paspulati, R, Robbin, M, Redesigning the Medical Student Radiology Elective: A More Clinically-oriented and Active Learning Approach  .  Radiological Society of North America 2013 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, December 1 - December 6, 2013 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2013/13013168.html