title: An assessment of the feasibility and effectiveness of an e-learning module in delivering a curriculum in radiation protection to undergraduate medical students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Integrating radiation protection (RP) education in the undergraduate medical curriculum is gaining importance and is mandatory in certain jurisdictions. An e-learning module for RP was developed at the authors' medical school and was integrated into year 4 of the 5-year undergraduate medical program. The aim of this study was to investigate its impact on RP knowledge, student preferences for various teaching methods, self-assessment of RP knowledge, and perceptions of career prospects in radiology. Likert-type 5-point scale evaluations and general comments about the RP module and various methods of teaching were also obtained.
  
  
  METHODS
  An e-learning module in RP was designed and presented to year 4 medical undergraduates. All students were required to complete premodule and postmodule questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-nine percent (n = 113) and 99% (n = 126) of the 127 medical students successfully completed and returned the premodule and postmodule questionnaires, respectively. After the e-learning module, students' postmodule RP knowledge had improved significantly. Analysis of postmodule RP knowledge suggested that a favorable self-assessment of knowledge of RP, perception of career prospects in radiology, and completion of the e-learning module with an increased number of sessions were factors predictive of improved RP knowledge. Students expressed a preference for didactic lectures and clinical attachment for instruction in RP over e-learning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The development of an e-learning module in RP is feasible and results in improved knowledge of RP among medical undergraduates. Combining e-learning and more traditional educational programs such as a clinical radiology rotation is likely to improve student experience.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork, Ireland. leong81@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sum
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mc Laughlin
authors.forename: Owen J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Siun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Flynn
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Maher
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000379:methods; D011835:Radiation Protection; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education*; D012647:Self-Assessment; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult