Radiology for medical students (1925-2018): an overview.

Cindy Chew,Paul Cannon,Patrick J O'Dwyer

doi:10.1259/bjro.20190050

Cindy Chew, Paul Cannon + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1259/bjro.20190050

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Journal: BJR open	Publication Date: Feb 4, 2020
Citations: 12	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: University of Glasgow, University Radiology

Abstract

Objective:Radiology has been espoused as an excellent tool for educating medical students since 1925. Advances in technology and PACS mean it has never been easier to demonstrate living anatomy and clinical pathology in exquisite detail to students. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of radiologic publications related to teaching medical students and its evolution through time.MethodsA literature search was performed from inception to November 2018. The search strategies used both text words and relevant indexing related to “radiology”, “medical students” and “curriculum”.Results:3589 records were identified of which 377 were included. There was a 100 fold increase in rate of publication over time—most were expository or surveys (60%), with few truly experimental articles. Radiology was used in clinical teaching (67%) and anatomy (33%). Almost half of radiologic anatomy teaching was conducted without the input of a Radiologist. Compulsory clinical clerkships/blocks in radiology was offered infrequently (35%). Female first authorship had increased in the last decade (47%).Conclusion:There is a significant increase in articles published on the role of radiology in medical student teaching in the last decade. Research in this area is required in order to investigate the role of radiology in improving the modern medical students’ education.

Highlights

Radiology has come a long way since Roentgen first discovered X-ray in 1895.1 Thanks largely to technological advancements in CT, MRI, positron emission tomography (PET)/CT and ultrasound, radiology is a vital part of clinical medicine, central in the diagnostic process as well as providing therapeutic options for patients
Articles published over time The total number of articles published related to radiology in medical student education included in this study is 377
The first paper describing the use of radiology in teaching medical students was published in 1925–30 years after Roentgen discovered X-ray in 1895.5 First paper to describe the use of radiologic images to teach anatomy was published 2 years later—by a radiologist.[6]

Summary

Introduction

Radiology has come a long way since Roentgen first discovered X-ray in 1895.1 Thanks largely to technological advancements in CT, MRI, positron emission tomography (PET)/CT and ultrasound, radiology is a vital part of clinical medicine, central in the diagnostic process as well as providing therapeutic options for patients. Almost 100 years of articles chart the evolution of the role of radiology in teaching medical students—from editorials by the early professors of radiology (1925–1950) extolling the untapped resource of radiologists to teach anatomy and clinical medicine, through to the calls for compulsory lectures, elective compulsory “clerkships” (1980s). The 1990s saw articles on adopting technological advances to incorporate radiology into the curriculum. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of radiologic publications related to teaching medical students and its evolution through time Twenty-first century Radiology teaching is focused on defining a core syllabus, assessment, appropriateness of investigations and web-based online interactive teaching and learning models.

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Conclusion