Emergency Radiology Elective Improves Second-Year Medical Students' Perceived Confidence and Knowledge of Appropriate Imaging Utilization

作者：Leschied Jessica R^*; Knoepp Ursula S; Hoff Carrie Nicole; Mazza Michael B; Klein Katherine A; Mullan Patricia B; Kelly Aine M

来源：Academic Radiology, 2013, 20(9): 1168-1176.

DOI：10.1016/j.acra.2013.05.011

• Imaging utilization
• medical student education
• radiology elective
• radiology education
• ACR appropriateness criteria

Rationale and Objectives: Given recent advances in and wider availability of complex imaging, physicians are expected to understand imaging appropriateness. We introduced second-year medical students to the American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria (ACR-AC) in an interactive case-based elective to demonstrate their use in imaging for common emergency department clinical complaints.
Materials and Methods: Prospective pre- and post-test design assessed second-year medical students' performance on case-based knowledge applications and self-assessed confidence related to ACR-AC guidelines compared to second-year students participating in a different concurrent radiology elective. Students participated in a 3-day elective covering the ACR-AC, comparative effective imaging, and risks associated with imaging radiation exposure, with outcomes of perceived confidence using a 5-point Likert scale and knowledge of ACR-AC using case-based multiple choice questions. Analysis included computing mean scores and assessing effect sizes for changes in knowledge.
Results: Before the elective, 24 students scored an average of 3.45 questions correct of 8 (43.1%). On course completion, students scored an average of 5.3 questions correct of the same questions (66.3%) (P < .001; effect size [Cohen's d] = 1.3940. In the comparison group, 12 students scored an average of 3.08 questions (38.5%) correctly pretest and 3.09 questions (38.6%) correctly post-test (P > .85; effect size = 0.008). Students' confidence in ordering appropriate imaging improved nearly 2-fold from a range of 1.9 to 3.2 (on a scale of 1.0 to 5.0) to a range of 3.7 to 4.5.
Conclusions: Following a short radiology elective, second-year medical students improved their knowledge of appropriate image utilization and perceived awareness of the indications, contraindications, and effects of radiation exposure related to medical imaging.

• 出版日期2013-9