The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) approach to developing undergraduate radiology in the U.K.

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Congress:

ECR 2014

Poster Number:

C-1580

Type:

Scientific Exhibit

Keywords:

Workforce, Education and training, Health policy and practice, Education, Audit and standards, RIS, PACS, Professional issues, Management

Authors:

F. Pathiraja¹, D. Little², G. B. Collins³, H. Lewis-Jones⁴; ¹London/UK, ²Bristol/UK, ³Cambridge, Ca/UK, ⁴Liverpool/UK

DOI:

10.1594/ecr2014/C-1580

DOI-Link:

https://dx.doi.org/10.1594/ecr2014/C-1580

Fig. 1: Logo of the Royal College of Radiologists.

Fig. 2: Map to illustrate all thirty-three UK medical schools 2014.

Fig. 3: Piechart to illustrate the responses from 16 medical schools to the question...

Fig. 7: Key words in developing the RCR undergraduate radiology work.

Fig. 6: Key themes arising from discussion of a focus group on undergraduate radiology...

Aims and objectives

Radiology plays an increasingly central role in clinical decision-making within the National Health Service (NHS). An understanding of radiology is essential for the newly qualified doctor.[1] The role of the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) includes educating future doctors: the RCR undergraduate curriculum provides a unified basis for undergraduate radiology teaching.[2] Aims: To explore current practice of radiology teaching within UK medical schools. Review the development of a network of RCR-approved representatives to align the RCR curriculum with those of individual medical schools.

Methods and materials

RCR invited a consultant and resident representative from each medical school to form a network of RCR-affiliated undergraduate radiology representatives. A focus group to share best practice was convened. A needs analysis to determine current practice was carried out via surveys to representatives at all 33 medical schools.

Results

16 surveys were returned (53% response rate). Thematic analysis of free text answers demonstrated the growing role of radiology residents as educators in formal roles as both academic clinical fellows and clinical teaching fellows. Several examples of existing collaboration between radiology and anatomy departments delivering integrated teaching were identified. Descriptive statistics of headline results: 50% had started to align the medical school curriculum with the RCR undergraduate curriculum. 93% had a dedicated undergraduate radiology course led by clinical radiologists. 63% of responders would consider sharing...

Conclusion

Radiologists who are visible to students are most likely to become the radiology role models that students identify with. They are the shop window into radiology and the quality of their teaching may attract future generations of students into the specialty. The vertical integration of radiology and anatomy into medical school curricula has begun and radiologists are increasingly involved in teaching radiological anatomy to first year undergraduates. Radiology residents are involved in teaching undergraduates both in an ad hoc manner and via formal roles as...

Personal information

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References

[1] General Medical Council.Tomorrow’s doctors: outcomes and standards for undergraduate medical education. GMC, 2009. [2] Royal College of Radiologists. Undergraduate Radiology Curriculum. April 2012.