Role of radiology in medical education: perspective of nonradiologists

We asked our nonradiologist colleagues to evaluate and comment on the most desirable format for radiology education.

Questionnaires were distributed to 631 nonradiologist physicians affiliated with the University of Minnesota and representing all medical specialties and academic ranks. Three hundred twenty-seven surveys were returned after one mailing.

Residency was retrospectively noted to be indispensable for consolidating knowledge of radiology. The overwhelming majority of clinicians in all specialties believed that formal radiologic instruction should be mandatory for medical students (279 of 322; 87%). Film interpretation was believed to be an indispensable part of a medical student radiology rotation (226 of 321; 70%), but many clinicians indicated a need for additional training. A marked disparity in the perceived level of confidence in interpreting radiologic tests during medical school and residency between those who had and those who had not received formal radiologic instruction during medical school was evident. This difference in perceived level of confidence was present even among the most experienced clinicians.

Collectively, the nonradiologist clinicians emphasized the need for a mandatory and clinically oriented radiology curriculum during medical school.