Effectiveness of an Interprofessional Imaging Review Workshop for Radiation Science Students

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Medical Imaging
• Interprofessional Education

Background:

• Interprofessional education (IPE) is crucial for preparing health science students for collaborative practice.
• Existing curricula may not adequately address the need for interdisciplinary learning in medical imaging.
• Assessing student readiness and the impact of IPE interventions is essential for curriculum development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate student attitudes, knowledge, and receptiveness to interprofessional education (IPE) in health sciences.
• To analyze the effectiveness of a 6-hour interprofessional imaging review workshop.
• To identify areas for improvement in future IPE initiatives.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods design was employed with 24 health science students (radiologic technology, radiation therapy, medical dosimetry).
• Students completed the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) and an imaging assessment pre- and post-workshop.
• The workshop included didactics, an imaging quiz, anatomy labeling, and collaborative case studies, followed by a feedback survey.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in quiz scores (46.47% to 82.21%) and anatomy labeling (40.00% to 81.70%) (P < .001).
• The workshop narrowed the competency gap between medical dosimetry and other participating programs.
• RIPLS subscales for Teamwork and Collaboration and Positive Professional Identity showed notable enhancement.

Conclusions:

• A structured 6-hour interprofessional imaging review workshop positively impacts radiation science education and interprofessional collaboration.
• IPE effectively enhances anatomical knowledge, teamwork, and professional identity among health science students.
• Future IPE workshops can be improved with discipline-specific case studies, visual aids, and potentially virtual reality components.