title: Assessment of an introductory cervicocerebral catheter angiography learning program: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is no standardized curriculum currently available at most institutions for establishing procedural competency in trainees performing cervicocerebral angiography. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a simple learning program to supplement the teaching of basic cervicocerebral angiography.
  
  
  METHODS
  An 11-session interactive curriculum was implemented covering anatomic, clinical, and radiographic topics for the novice cervicocerebral angiographer. The target learner was the neuroradiology fellow. Data were gathered regarding fellow comfort level on topics relating to cervicocerebral angiography by using a 5-point Likert scale. Improvement in scores on knowledge-based questions after completion of the curriculum was calculated (McNemar test). Trainee-perceived utility of the program was also recorded by using a 5-point Likert scale. Focus sessions were held at the completion of the curriculum to gather feedback regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the program from participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten subjects were enrolled in this pilot study for 3 years. Topics where participants reported a poor initial comfort level (4 or higher) included selection of injection rates and volumes and reformation of reverse-curve catheters. Trainees demonstrated a statistically significant change in the distribution of scores of 29.3% (49.4%-78.7% correct response rate, P < .0001). The average perceived utility was 1.5 (1 = most useful, 5 = least useful).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This simple learning program was a useful adjunct to the training of fellows in diagnostic cervicocerebral angiography, resulting in quantitative improvements in knowledge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York 10016, USA. yvonne.lui@nyumc.org
authors.forename: Y W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Lui
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Farinhas
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Basalely
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D003479:Curriculum; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D009485:Neuroradiography; D009518:New York; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education*; D055815:Young Adult