Teaching Medical Students How to Interpret Chest X-Rays: The Design and Development of an e-Learning Resource.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Radiology Training
• E-learning Technologies

Background:

• Traditional radiology education for medical students is often inadequate and unstructured.
• Students report low confidence in interpreting diagnostic imaging like x-rays.
• There is a need for structured, accessible resources to improve radiology competency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the design and development of an e-learning resource for interpreting chest x-rays.
• To provide medical students with a systematic approach to chest x-ray interpretation.
• To enhance radiology education through digital learning tools.

Main Methods:

• The e-learning resource was developed using Xerte Online Toolkits.
• Design principles included andragogy, Overbaugh's guidelines, and Mayer's multimedia principles.
• The ADDIE instructional design model guided content development, incorporating cases, quizzes, and summary tables.

Main Results:

• A preliminary evaluation involved 18 medical students (years 3-5).
• Students reported high satisfaction (average 9/10) and 100% recommendation rate.
• Positive feedback highlighted ease of navigation, visual learning, and relevant content.

Conclusions:

• E-learning resources can be effectively created using instructional design models and educational theories.
• The developed resource enhances knowledge of chest x-ray interpretation.
• This digital tool is valuable as a standalone or pre-clinical placement resource, especially in remote learning environments.