Small Group Tutorials in Radiology: a Pilot Study

Abstract Rationale: Radiology plays an integral role in the diagnosis and management of disease. As diagnostic images are frequently reviewed by junior doctors prior to the formal Radiology report being issued, it is essential that they are armed with the skills to correctly interpret pathological findings, especially out of hours. Effective radiology teaching is of considerable benefit to patients as critical findings are less likely to be missed or misinterpreted. Methodology: Quantitative methods were utilised for data collection. Sampling was purposive as questionnaires were disseminated at the end of the series of small group tutorials. The response rate was 81.4 % (228/280). Findings: The data extracted from this research demonstrated the positive impact the change initiative had on the 228 participants. 91% of postgraduates and 84% of undergraduates rated the small group tutorials as either essential or very helpful. 100% of participants would like more radiology teaching with 85% preferring the small group tutorial format. Worryingly, 85% of junior doctor's and 44 % of undergraduates felt that their radiology training had insufficiently prepared them for the clinical duties of a junior doctor. Conclusion: This research supports the implementation of small group tutorials in radiology into the medical undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum