title: Medical student radiology curriculum: what skills do residency program directors believe are essential for medical students to attain?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to identify radiology topics considered essential by residency program directors who will be working with our graduates. Secondary goals were to survey their satisfaction with incoming residents' radiology knowledge, inquire if radiology training was provided in their programs, and identify differences among specialties.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was mailed to all residency program directors in emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, and general surgery programs that accepted our graduates between 2005 and 2010. Program directors were asked to rate a list of radiology knowledge and skills topics as essential or nonessential and to answer several questions regarding their residents and programs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-nine surveys were completed (51.3% response rate). Seven skills were considered essential by 90% or more of all respondents. On average, program directors identified 18/28 topics as essential prior to beginning their residency. The mean number identified as essential did not differ by program (F4, 93 = 0.732, P = .572). Based on analyses of variance comparing each topic by program, the importance of six topics differed significantly. Program directors generally agreed that incoming residents had adequate radiology skills and knowledge when they started their residencies. One hundred percent of the responding emergency medicine, family medicine, and pediatrics programs and 70% to 80% of the general surgery and internal medicine programs provide radiology training.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is high agreement among program directors regarding imaging topics they consider essential. Topics considered essential by more than 60% should comprise our core curriculum for all students while less essential topics can be included in elective or program specific curricula.
authors: Department of Radiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Mail Stop L954, 12401 East 17th Avenue, Room 537, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. Kimi.Kondo@ucdenver.edu
authors: Kimi L
authors: KL
authors: Kondo
authors: Mathew
authors: M
authors: Swerdlow
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003479:Curriculum / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005178:Faculty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States