Teaching, learning and assessment of medical imaging prioritization and interpretation using virtual on-call

Principal Supervisor

Professor Gregory E. Antonio, Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Organ Imaging

(In view of Professor Gregory E. Antonio's departure from the University, Professor Anil T. Ahuja, Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Organ Imaging, has become the Principal Supervisor of this project.)

Duration

2 years
Approved Budget

HK $250,000
 
  • Project Objectives
  • Description
  • Evaluation of outcomes
  • Dissemination of results & deliverables

Project Objectives

We propose a system-level improvement in acute medicine education using an outcomes-based approach, with the aims of:

  • Interns having management skills in requesting and prioritizing medical imaging up to the local established set standard
  • Interns being able to implement a core set of image interpretation skills
  • Students to develop a personalized Digital Portfolio of cases they have undertaken to keep (for future reference) and to develop these throughout their careers

Description of process and deliverables

  • Developing “Virtual On-call” system (months 1-6): Developing an archive of case scenarios linked with images. A selection of cases were available to the individual student during the “On-call period” at regular intervals during the final years of medical training. The cases contain feed back with teaching points at the end which will be downloadable on completion of each case.
  • Collecting and processing clinical cases (months 1- 18): Developing the bulk of the clinical cases took approximately 12 months. The additional six months allowed for fine-tuning the archive and for acquiring unusual cases to complete the material.
  • Adapting On-call system for Internet interface (months 3-15): A server system will be developed to handle multiple individual secured internet log-ins, real-time random case selection and provide downloads for completed cases.
  • User assessment and system fine-tuning (months 9-15): Users were be recruited from medical students. System assessment were be based on feedback after using the system. Major issues included: ease of use, similarity of format to everyday work, comparison with conventional teaching. The feedback will be used to fine-tune the system.

Evaluation of outcomes

Cases for virtual-on-call
A total of thirty on-call cases were developed for 10 separate tutorials on different body systems. These cases were considered essential for undergraduate students. All cases are designed for internet and mobile phone network dissemination. The cases are based on simulation of on-call case presentations and imaging teaching points timed at different intervals during the cases. Responses from study users have been positive.

Dissemination of results & deliverables

Case dissemination
The limited resources allocated to this project precluded the acquisition and development of a central server to allow central archiving of cases and the development of a virtual on call system as originally planned.

In its place we have developed our emergency cases to allow dissemination via the internet and mobile telephone network. All collected cases are now stored in the server for the department of Diagnostic Radiology and Organ Imaging, Chinese University of Hong Kong. These are ready for dissemination.