Elsevier

Academic Radiology

Volume 10, Issue 2, February 2003, Pages 205-210
Academic Radiology

Medical Student Education
Incorporating Electronic Media into Medical Student Education: A Survey of AMSER Members on Computer and Web Use in Radiology Courses

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1076-6332(03)80046-6Get rights and content

Abstract

Rationale and Objectives

The purpose of this study was to define the current use of information technology in radiology tutorials for medical students.

Materials and Methods

The authors conducted a Web-based survey of directors of medical school courses in radiology. The survey dealt with the details of the courses and the use of computers and the Web during the courses.

Results

There were 48 responses. Most radiology courses were elective (73%) and were offered monthly. Most institutions (79%) had picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) available or were completely filmless. The teaching case presentations, however, often included film images displayed on a view box or by an overhead projector. Computers dedicated to student use were uncommon (28%). The Web was used infrequently as a teaching resource, and a Web site was not available in most courses. Computer technical support was variable and usually provided by the course director. Course directors at institutions with PACS were more likely to use digital technology for case presentations and more likely to use the Web for teaching purposes.

Conclusion

Despite the widespread use of digital technology and PACS in the field of radiology, digital technology is underused in radiology courses. However, departments with PACS tend to use digital technology more frequently in education than do departments without PACS.

Section snippets

Materials and Methods

A Web-based questionnaire (Figure 1) was sent via e-mail to 161 members of the Alliance of Medical Student Educators in Radiology. Because many of these individuals taught at the same institutions, many programs received duplicate questionnaires. The response rate therefore was determined on the basis of the number of responding departments rather than the number of surveys sent. The initial mailing was followed by two reminder messages to all nonresponders. The survey included questions about

Results

There were 48 responses to the questionnaire from the 161 e-mails sent to 139 departments, for a response rate of 35%. Radiology courses were described as “required” in 11 schools (23%) and “elective” in 35 schools (73%); respondents at two schools (4%) did not specify whether their courses were required or elective. The number of courses offered per year ranged from one to 90, with an average of 10.7. Most courses were offered approximately once a month (in 18 cases). In three cases the course

Discussion

Previously confined to word processing, communication and information technology has been repositioned as an integral component of the medical school environment (3). This change has occurred in less than two student generations. Such advances bring new opportunities and challenges to medical education and are affecting the way educators teach and the way students learn.

There are many potential benefits of information technology for medical school education in radiology. These include access to

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