COVID-Necessitated Online Radiology Elective Improves Student Imaging Appropriateness in Clinical Case Vignettes

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Radiology
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Medical imaging use has grown, leading to inefficiencies and varied educational standards.
• Physicians and students often lack preparedness for appropriate imaging selection.
• The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for flexible, remote learning solutions in medical education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a fully online, image-intensive radiology curriculum.
• To introduce medical students to clinical radiology and the principles of appropriate imaging usage.
• To address educational gaps and improve physician preparedness in medical imaging.

Main Methods:

• A 2-week online radiology elective was designed with a focus on imaging appropriateness.
• Learning incorporated self-assessments, a portfolio, and a clinical radiology conference presentation.
• Assessments included clinical vignettes based on American College of Radiology (ACR) Appropriateness Criteria and an MRI safety quiz.

Main Results:

• 97 third and fourth-year students from five institutions completed the elective.
• Examination scores significantly improved compared to historical data from students without radiology coursework.
• The curriculum was published and disseminated globally to medical schools.

Conclusions:

• The virtual elective successfully educated students in radiology and appropriate imaging selection.
• The curriculum utilized a free, accessible, online format, enhancing student education and patient safety.
• Future iterations should consider incorporating additional radiology topics into the curriculum.