Distributed Web-supported radiology clerkship for the required clinical clerkship year of medical school: development, implementation, and evaluation.
OBJECTIVE
The authors performed this study to develop, implement, and evaluate a new radiology clerkship for the required clinical clerkship year of medical school.


METHODS
A mandatory radiology clerkship experience was added to the required clinical clerkships as a series of 10 independent half-day teaching sessions. These sessions were distributed as one session per existing clerkship throughout the year. To provide continuity and organization, Web-based curriculum materials were designed and implemented as a component of the radiology clerkship. The new clerkship was evaluated with observations, pretest and posttest measures with a control group, structured and unstructured student and faculty surveys, and individual and small group interviews.


RESULTS
The clerkship was successfully developed and implemented. Ninety-five students have completed the clerkship. Their mean posttest score (84.8) was significantly higher than their mean pretest score (58.8, P < .001) and the mean control group score (59.7, P < .001). Students rarely used the Web site. Disadvantages of the distributed clerkship were identified.


CONCLUSIONS
A radiology clerkship distributed among existing clerkships is feasible but has many disadvantages. Students greatly prefer live instruction, and Web-based educational materials are more valuable to faculty and administrators than to students.
Chew
Felix S
FS
Department of Radiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1088, USA.
Relyea-Chew
Annemarie
A
D001290:Attitude; D002982:Clinical Clerkship; D003479:Curriculum; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology