Pediatric radiologist-driven didactics for a pediatric residency program: a quality initiative

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pediatric Radiology
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Pediatric residents often lack sufficient knowledge regarding appropriate medical imaging utilization.
• Gaps in understanding can lead to suboptimal resource use and potential patient harm.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of radiologist-led imaging education for pediatric residents.
• To improve residents' understanding of radiation risks and the American College of Radiology (ACR) Appropriateness Criteria.
• To evaluate the value of integrating radiologists into pediatric residency training.

Main Methods:

• A needs assessment identified a demand for a lecture series on radiation risk and imaging topics.
• A four-part lecture series was delivered by a pediatric radiology fellow, covering ordering, ALARA principles, and interpretation.
• Resident knowledge was assessed using Likert scales and a 10-item quiz before and after the lectures.

Main Results:

• Residents' understanding of radiation risk improved significantly, with average scores increasing from 3.27 to 4.27 (out of 5).
• Knowledge of ACR appropriateness criteria rose from 1.91 to 3.61 (out of 5), and appropriateness quiz scores improved from 82.7% to 93.8%.
• Residents reported positive feedback and perceived a beneficial impact on their education.

Conclusions:

• Radiologist-led educational interventions effectively enhance pediatric residents' knowledge of appropriate imaging and radiation safety.
• Integrating radiologists into residency programs is a well-received and valuable educational strategy.
• This approach supports optimal resource utilization and patient care in pediatric imaging.