Purpose
To assess the awareness and level of exposure of interventional radiology (IR) among medical students at a Canadian medical school. To understand how IR can be better described and introduced to medical students.
Materials and Methods
Electronic anonymous surveys were sent to 542 medical students in their first, second, and third years at a Canadian 3-year medical school. A total of 103 students (19%) responded. Each survey contained 17 questions assessing knowledge, interest, and perception of IR.
Results
Fifty-three percent (55/103) of respondents reported “poor” knowledge of IR and only 18% (19/103) said they would consider a career in IR. Respondents cited lack of knowledge (48%, 37/77) or lack of interest (43%, 33/77) as the main reasons why they would not consider IR as a career. Although 92% (95/103) of respondents could name at least one IR procedure, many (54%, 56/103) were unclear as to the duties of an interventional radiologist within the hospital. Seventy-four percent (76/103) of students stated that a mandatory 2-week rotation in radiology during clerkship would be beneficial, whereas 71% (73/103) stated that they would be interested in a 2-week IR selective during their mandatory core surgery rotation.
Conclusions
The knowledge and exposure to IR in medical school is limited. Students were eager to learn more about IR and expressed a desire for more exposure. Early exposure of medical students to IR should be introduced to attract future interventional radiologists as well as increase awareness among future referring physicians.
With the continuing introduction of novel minimally invasive treatments, the field of interventional radiology (IR) is rapidly developing and expanding . However, as it continues to grow, it faces many challenges, including a worsening personnel shortage, turf issues with other specialties, limited funding, lack of referral support, and lack of awareness among other specialists, family physicians , and medical students . To address many of the issues faced by the field of IR, awareness among other practicing physicians as well as future physicians is vital .
The purpose of this study is to assess the awareness and level of knowledge of IR among medical students at a Canadian medical school. We also assess the methods of dissemination of this information in an attempt to understand how this rapidly expanding field can be better described and introduced to our future physicians. This could have important implications for the future of IR, both in attracting more talented medical students to the field and in increasing awareness among future referring physicians.
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Materials and methods
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Results
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Table 1
Demographics of Respondents as they Pertain to Knowledge and General Interest in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology (IR)
Possible Responses Response Count ( n = 103) % Year of medical school 1 47 46 2 40 39 3 16 16 Self-reported knowledge of IR as compared with other subjects Excellent 3 3 Good 9 9 Adequate 26 25 Poor 55 53 No knowledge 10 10 Respondents who have completed or plan to complete an elective in radiology Yes 61 59 No 42 41 Respondents who would consider a career in radiology Yes 23 22 No 50 49 Not sure 30 29 Respondents who would consider a career in IR Yes 19 18 No 46 45 Not sure 38 37 Reasons respondents would not consider a career in IR or are not sure Lack of interest 33/77 43 Lack of knowledge 37/77 48 Lifestyle 5/77 7 Radiation exposure 2/77 3 Other 13/77 17 Respondents who have seen patients who were treated by an interventional radiologist Yes 57 55 No 31 30 Not sure 15 15
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Table 2
Most Commonly Known IR Procedures among Respondents
Procedure Number of Respondents Who Mentioned the Procedure ( n = 103) % of Respondents Ultrasound- or computed tomography–guided biopsy 26 25 Line insertion 22 21 Angiography 20 19 Balloon angioplasty 18 17 Embolization (includes uterine fibroids) 16 16 Stent placement 15 15 Feeding tube insertion 10 10 Inferior vena cava filter placement 8 8 Thoracentesis/chest tube placement 7 7 Abscess drains 6 6 Coiling aneurysms 6 6
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Table 3
Respondents’ Knowledge of Tasks Performed by Interventional Radiologists
Statement Presented in Survey Possible Responses Response Count ( n = 103) % An interventional radiologists must complete a residency in: Surgery 2 2 Radiology 88 85 Both surgery and radiology 13 13 Other 2 2 Interventional radiologists have outpatient clinics. True 66 64 False 37 36 Interventional radiologists do ward rounds in the hospital. True 52 51 False 51 49 Interventional radiologists admit patients to hospital. True 28 27 False 75 73
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Table 4
Methods of Learning that Provided Respondents with the Most Information about Interventional Radiology (IR)
Methods of Exposure to IR Response Count ( n = 103) Percentage of Respondents Radiology elective 28 27 Lectures from interventional radiologists 13 13 Ward rounds in hospital 11 11 Self-directed research 10 10 Problem-based learning tutorials 4 4 Multidisciplinary meetings 3 3 Other 12 12 Respondents with no exposure to IR 34 33
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Table 5
Student Ratings of the Various Teaching Methods in Interventional Radiology, Ranging from 1 (Best) to 7 (Worst)
1 (best), number 2, number 3, number 4, number 5, number 6, number 7 (worst), number Ward rounds 10 21 11 16 13 11 12 Radiology department electives55 22 7 8 2 3 3 Lectures from interventional radiologists 193324 11 4 1 3 Multidisciplinary meetings 2 6 16 1725 21 10 Self-directed learning websites 5 7 17 19 1527 7 Problem-based learning tutorials 7 8 1721 24 19 5 Clinical research projects 0 3 7 8 15 1653
Table 6
Respondents’ Interest in Making Diagnostic Radiology and Interventional Radiology a Part of the Medical School Clerkship Curriculum
Question Possible Response Response Count ( n = 103) % Do you think a mandatory 2-week radiology rotation during clerkship would be beneficial? Yes 76 74 No 11 11 Not sure 16 15 Would you be interested in doing a 2-week interventional radiology selective if it was offered during the 6-week surgery rotation in clerkship? Yes 73 71 No 16 15 Not sure 14 14
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Discussion
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Acknowledgments
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Appendix
Survey
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1(best) 2 3 4 5 6 7 (worst) Ward rounds Radiology department electives Lectures from interventional radiologists Multidisciplinary meetings Self-directed learning websites Problem-based learning tutorials Clinical research projects
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