A pilot study measuring changes in student impressions before and after clinical training using a questionnaire based...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Radiological Technology
• Health Sciences

Background:

• Student motivation is linked to positive academic impressions.
• Clinical training is a crucial component of radiological technology education.
• Understanding student perceptions can inform curriculum development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the learning impact of clinical training on final-year radiological technology students.
• To measure changes in student impressions of x-ray examination training before and after clinical experience.
• To identify key factors influencing student perceptions of clinical training.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 32 final-year radiological technology students participated.
• A questionnaire using the semantic differential technique assessed student impressions.
• Factor analysis was employed to identify underlying dimensions of student perceptions.
• Impressions were compared before and after the clinical training period.

Main Results:

• Factor analysis revealed two primary impression factors: 'resistance' and 'responsibility'.
• Significant differences in factor scores were observed between pre- and post-training assessments.
• These changes indicate that clinical training influences student impressions of x-ray examination.

Conclusions:

• Clinical training significantly affects student perceptions in radiological technology programs.
• The study highlights the importance of clinical experience in shaping student attitudes towards their field.
• Findings suggest that positive impressions fostered by training can enhance student motivation and learning outcomes.