Awareness of interventional radiology before professional training and outcome measurement of an interventional radiology curriculum: a survey of third-year undergraduates in a Chinese medical college

Longitudinal investigation of undergraduates' radiation anxiety, interest, and career intention in interventional radiology

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effect of the school curriculum and on-site observation of interventional radiology (IR) operations in clinics on undergraduates' radiation anxiety, interest, and career intention.

METHODS

Between the academic years 2021 and 2023, all of the fourth-year undergraduates were surveyed by questionnaires, which covered their pre-curriculum, post-curriculum in-school, and post-on-site view of IR surgeries in clinic. The survey included categories of gender, fear of X-ray and IR operation, interest in IR surgery, and career-pursuing intention.

RESULTS

A total of 333 (91.0%) respondents (111 students for three times) were included in analyses. The fear of X-ray and radiation exposure during IR procedures was reduced after taking school courses (p < 0.001), and it was further decreased after on-site viewing (p < 0.001). The association values among the three groups were 33.8% and 41.9%, respectively. The interest in IR was improved both after applying for the curriculum and after clinical exposure to IR surgery (p < 0.001). In addition, 4 (3.6%) and 12 (10.8%) students showed a sense of achievement after taking courses and on-site viewing, respectively. The association value was 49.4%. Regarding career intention, it was both significantly increased after taking courses and on-site observation (p < 0.001). Besides, 8 (7.2%), 17 (15.3%), and 36 (32.4%) students in the three groups considered IR as the preferred career choice, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Applying for IR curriculum could reduce undergraduates' radiation anxiety, and activate their professional interest and career pursuing intention. Clinical exposure to IR surgeries further boosted this effect.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT

Educational interventions of curriculum and on-site view of IR surgery improve the undergraduates' interest in IR and stimulate their career intention, which is crucial for the advancement of IR.

KEY POINTS

Increasing interest in interventional radiology (IR) as a career is urgent, given rising demand of services. Education and on-site viewing of IR surgery reduced radiation anxiety and increased interest in IR. Early exposure to IR is effective at encouraging undergraduates to consider IR as their career.

Worldwide Knowledge About Interventional Radiology Among Medical Students: Findings of a Comprehensive Review

PURPOSE

The objective of this comprehensive review is to investigate the studies assessing the interventional radiology knowledge among medical students worldwide and inspect the feasible solutions for improving their perspective on this specialty.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was accomplished on PubMed, Scopus, Web of science, and Embase databases. The quality of eligible articles was assessed with the QATSDD assessment tool.

RESULTS

After screening of articles, 29 studies were included. All the included articles were published between 2009 and 2021, with 20 studies performed in 2017 and thereafter. Interventional radiologists' duties, procedures, and training pathways were the main subjects investigated in surveys. The interest and exposure to interventional radiology were also assessed. All the studies indicated that the knowledge about interventional radiology compared with other specialties is weak. In 14 studies, over 50% of participants reported their interventional radiology knowledge as either poor or none. The most reason for not considering interventional radiology residency was lack of awareness during medical schools. Studies which held a tutorial course reported the students' awareness and interest improved significantly after the course.

CONCLUSION

The present evidence indicates that although the current awareness of interventional radiology is low, timely didactic courses in medical schools can improve this condition significantly, lead to graduation of more oriented referring physicians, and also attract more fit applicants to interventional radiology residency programs.

Perception of Interventional Radiology among Jazan Medical Students: Assessment of Knowledge and Career Intentions

Context Lack of awareness among the students in the medical field is the greatest challenge to overcome in the emergence of contemporary interventional radiology (IR).

Objectives We aimed to conduct a survey among medical students of Jazan University to explore their knowledge about IR, interest in IR as a future career, and preferred methods of training in IR.

Materials and Methods This was a cross-sectional, self-directed questionnaire study. The target population was all medical students at Jazan University. Surveys were sent to 600 students. The questionnaire consisted of 11 closed and open-ended questions.

Statistical Analysis We calculated the size of the sample using the Raosoft Sample Size Calculator Web site. Data analysis was performed using SPSS statistics.

Results A total of 270 students responded (45%); more than half of the respondents (58.5%) were in the preclinical stage, while the rest were in the clinical stage. About 62.5% of clinical students and 66.4% preclinical students reported that their perception regarding the terminology of IR was good or excellent. Regarding the identification of interventional radiologists, 50.9% from the clinical students thought them to be radiologists and 50% from preclinical students also identified them as such.

About 29.5% from the clinical students and 27.8% from the preclinical students thought them special surgeons, and 31.3% clinical students compared with 30.4% preclinical students believed they are vascular surgeons working with X-rays. About 19.6% clinical students compared with 17.7% preclinical students said they are general surgeons working with X-rays, and 48.2% clinical students compared with 45.6% preclinical students said they are special radiologists who work with percutaneous techniques. There was a significant difference (p = 0.041) in the responses between preclinical and clinical students regarding knowledge about what this medical specialty does. About 60.8% of clinical students reported that their knowledge and information regarding IR are efficient in comparison to 39.2% of preclinical students.

Conclusion This study demonstrated that the basic knowledge among Jazan medical students is poor. About half of the respondents were clinical students who understood the radiology specialty, compared with one-third of preclinical students. This could impact the student’s decision toward IR as a future career.

Should interventional radiology gain speciality status within the royal college of radiologists?

Interventional Radiology (IR) medicine's best kept secret will revolutionise healthcare like never before. The legacy Charles Dotter left behind not only showcases IR's pursuit of innovative and complex techniques in order to provide better treatment options for patients, it also sparked an opportunity for radiologists to use their imagination and creativity to develop IR into a speciality catering for the 21st century. By utilising imaging as well as clinical and minimal invasive surgical knowledge IRs are able to play an integral role in caring for patients in nearly all specialities.Over the past few decades, the absence of radiology in the leadership management arena has allowed other specialities to perpetuate turf wars and utilise techniques developed by IR. A concerted effort is required by the wider radiology community to address the problems faced by IR and to recognise its true potential as a speciality to further improve patient care.

Assessing diagnostic radiology knowledge among Syrian medical undergraduates

BACKGROUND

The role of radiology in medicine and healthcare is rapidly expanding worldwide, but awareness about this field among medical students is poor. This is the first study to assess Syrian medical students' knowledge and attitude regarding radiology.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study conducted at the Syrian Private University, on November 8, 2019, on the International Day of Radiology during the war crisis. Data were collected through self-administered surveys and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

RESULTS

The questionnaire was completed by 269 students whose ages ranged between 17 and 30 years old. Males constituted 63.6% of the respondents. The results revealed adequate knowledge about the basics of radiology. 73.6% of the students had previously heard about interventional radiology. There were slight misconceptions with certain points in each section, especially those pertaining to the radiation exposure of each imaging method. Finally, the students expressed low interest in radiology as a future career (24.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

The level of awareness can affect a student's decision in considering radiology as a future career. Further evaluation of the methods of teaching, input from medical boards, curriculum advisors, and guidance from radiologists is required.