title: Radiation safety and medical education: development and integration of a dedicated educational module into a radiology clerkship, outcomes assessment, and survey of medical students' perceptions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assesses the effect on medical student understanding of a new radiobiology and radiation safety module in a fourth-year radiology clerkship.
  
  
  METHODS
  A dedicated radiobiology and radiation safety module was incorporated into the fourth-year medical school radiology clerkship at our institution. Student understanding of the material was assessed via pretest and posttest. Statistical analysis was performed to assess significance of changes in student performance. In addition, we surveyed student perceptions of the importance of this material in medical education and practice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Monthly pretest mean scores ranged from 47.8% to 55.6%, with an average monthly pretest score of 50.3%. Monthly posttest mean scores ranged from 77.3% to 91.2%, with an average monthly posttest score of 83.9%. The improvement in exam scores after the educational intervention was statistically significant (all P < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The introduction of a new educational module can significantly improve medical student understanding of radiobiology and radiation safety.
authors.affiliation: Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indianapolis, IN 46202-5253, USA. nakoontz@iupui.edu
authors.forename: Nicholas A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Koontz
authors.forename: Richard B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Gunderman
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002982:Clinical Clerkship / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003479:Curriculum / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D007196:Indiana; D011835:Radiation Protection; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*