Purpose or Case Report: To redesign our pediatric radiology elective curriculum to better prepare all medical students to have the necessary skills needed to improve care for pediatric patients.
Methods & Materials: Using Kern’s 6-step model, our pediatric radiology course was created in June 2014 and revised iteratively.
A general and targeted needs assessment revealed a lack of standardization in pediatric radiology curricula and topics too diverse and extensive to include in a 4-week rotation. The top 10 essential skills needed for entering a residency caring for children was therefore used to shape the curriculum and determine specific learning objectives. The first learning activity added to the course was completion of previously published online interactive learning modules. Currently, 10-minute “micro” PowerPoint modules are being designed to specifically address the top 10 essential skills that were not included in the knowledge based online modules. Two forms for assessment are in the early stages of implementation. First, a 60-question multiple-choice test has been created from the Radiology Exam Web and has been completed by the most recent student. Second, 5 clinical vignettes are being created with score sheets to evaluate students’ ability to order the appropriate imaging, communicate relevant clinical history, and interpret imaging studies.
Results: 19 students have taken the revised course. 100% of students agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, this “elective filled an essential gap in my learning not otherwise filled by Phase I-III Curriculum.” The mean score on overall quality of the course is rated higher than the average of for other clinical rotations. All course comments were positive.
Conclusions: By focusing on educating students entering pediatric medical careers, the pediatric radiology elective will have a larger and more meaningful impact compared to focusing on prospective radiologists. Emphasis on appropriate ordering, radiation safety, and indication driven imaging algorithms is different than previously published curricula. Introducing objective assessments will better evaluate student performance.