Distributed Web-supported radiology clerkship for the required clinical clerkship year of medical school: development, implementation, and evaluation.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The authors performed this study to develop, implement, and evaluate a new radiology clerkship for the required clinical clerkship year of medical school.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A mandatory radiology clerkship experience was added to the required clinical clerkships as a series of 10 independent half-day teaching sessions. These sessions were distributed as one session per existing clerkship throughout the year. To provide continuity and organization, Web-based curriculum materials were designed and implemented as a component of the radiology clerkship. The new clerkship was evaluated with observations, pretest and posttest measures with a control group, structured and unstructured student and faculty surveys, and individual and small group interviews.

RESULTS: The clerkship was successfully developed and implemented. Ninety-five students have completed the clerkship. Their mean posttest score (84.8) was significantly higher than their mean pretest score (58.8, P < .001) and the mean control group score (59.7, P < .001). Students rarely used the Web site. Disadvantages of the distributed clerkship were identified.

CONCLUSION: A radiology clerkship distributed among existing clerkships is feasible but has many disadvantages. Students greatly prefer live instruction, and Web-based educational materials are more valuable to faculty and administrators than to students.