Awareness and knowledge of interventional radiology among medical students at an Indian institution

Abstract

Purpose: Interventional radiology (IR) is a novel and evolving sub-specialty that encompasses image guided diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. With the advent of new imaging techniques and an increasing demand of minimally invasive procedures, IR continues to grow as a core component in medical and surgical therapeutics. Radiology teaching is a part of medical undergraduate curriculum; however, the medical undergraduate cohort lacks exposure to IR principles, methods and techniques. The purpose of this study is to determine the knowledge and awareness of IR among medical students in a single university in India. Materials and methods: Electronic anonymous surveys were sent to 350 medical students of Pt. JNM Medical College, Raipur, India. Each survey comprised of questions assessing knowledge and exposure to IR. A total of 70 students (20%) responded. Results: 85.7% of respondents positively reported that radiologists have a role in diagnostic as well as therapeutic interventions, however, 60% of students cited a very poor/poor knowledge of IR. A larger part, 91.5%, stated that they would be interested in IR based teaching delivered as a part of their undergraduate teaching program. Those who knew at least one interventional radiology technique were 1.51 (95% CI: 1.02-2.22; p < 0.05) times more likely to be considering it as a career. Conclusion: Medical Students demonstrate a poor knowledge of IR. This corresponds to a limited and inconsistent exposure to IR in medical schools. The study suggests that there is a need to deliver an IR based curriculum in medical undergraduate teaching in India. Our proposition includes introducing a regulated IR teaching in undergraduate medical education using new module designs and presenting medical students an opportunity to attend IR education days, symposiums and conferences to incite early participation.

The Status of Interventional Radiology as a Specialty among Medical Students in India—Knowledge, Interest, and Exposure

“…This varied from 15 to 73% in six previous studies in literature conducted at single institutions globally from 2009 to 2019. 3 5 7 8 10 12 There is a steady rising trend of interest for IR among medical students.…”

“…Numerous studies have established this fact and further pointed out that this might discourage medical graduates in future, not only in choosing IR as a career but also in considering it as an alternative management option within their chosen subspecialty. 5 6 7 8 9 Also, many studies have underlined the positive outcomes of introduction of an undergraduate IR curriculum. 10 11 …”

Assessing diagnostic radiology knowledge among Syrian medical undergraduates

“…Similarly, Alnajjar et al observed that only 25% of Saudi medical students completed or were planning to complete an elective in IR. Finally, Agrawal et al noted an alarmingly low rate of IR rotation completion at 5.7% among Indian medical students [3,34,35]. Students who had a previous rotation in IR tended to be more informed about the specialty [3].…”

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on radiology education, training, and practice: A narrative review

“…With the arrival and adoption of the latest imaging techniques and the growing demand for image-guided minimally invasive surgical procedures, interventional radiology (IR) has shown steady growth as a core element in medical and surgical therapeutics. However, a lacuna of teaching principles of IR, methods and techniques in the medical undergraduate curriculum was recognized[ 37 ]. Radiology has seen a digital revolution in the past decade having a notable impact on the education and training of radiologists.…”