Effectiveness and student perceptions of standardized radiology clerkship lectures: a comparison between resident and attending radiologist performances

Abstract

Rationale and objectives: The authors' objective in this study was to determine whether radiology residents can effectively substitute for attending radiologists in delivering standardized lectures to medical students, without a decline in student performance on examinations or perception of the clerkship lectures.

Materials and methods: Between September 2001 and July 2002, 40 3rd- and 4th-year medical students in the radiology clerkship at Rhode Island Hospital were given 11 standardized PowerPoint presentations. Half of the students were lectured by attending radiologists, and the other half were given the same lectures by radiology residents. At the end of each lecture, students completed surveys regarding their perceptions of the lecture. At the end of each clerkship, a written examination was administered to the students. The results of the surveys and the written examinations were then analyzed to determine whether there were significant differences between the perceptions and performances of these two student groups.

Results: There was no significant difference regarding the perceived overall lecture quality and no significant difference in final examination performance between the two student groups. Lectures by residents were perceived as having an environment in which students felt more comfortable asking questions. Attending radiologist lecturers, however, were perceived to have a greater ability to answer student questions, as well as to ask more appropriate questions of students.

Conclusion: Radiology residents were as effective overall as attending radiologists at presenting standardized lecture material to medical students, with no difference in student perception of overall lecture quality or in student performance on examinations.