Michael P. D'Alessandro

Longitudinal comparison of multimedia textbook instruction with a lecture in radiology education.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES The purpose of this prospective randomized study was to compare the long-term instructional effectiveness of a computer-based radiology multimedia textbook (MMTB) with that of a traditional lecture. METHODS Volunteer faculty/fellows and residents were randomly assigned to either a computer-based MMTB group or to a lecture group. The course content for each instructional group was the same. Pretests, posttests, and 1-year long-term retention tests were administered to both groups. The same 10 questions were on all tests. The resulting data were analyzed using analysis of variance procedures available on the Statistical Analysis System. RESULTS A comparison of the long-term instructional effectiveness of an MMTB versus a lecture showed that the MMTB computer instructional method was at least comparable in spite of the initial short-term appearance of lecture superiority. CONCLUSION These results suggest a promising future for MMTB and other forms of computer-based education in radiologic instruction for medical students and radiologists.

The virtual hospital. Providing multimedia decision support tools via the Internet.

Physicians in the clinical setting remain isolated from important sources of medical information. The authors have created a multimedia database known as The Virtual Hospital that improves access to current medical data, which is used to improve patient care decisions. The Virtual Hospital is a digital health sciences library stored on a server (computer) at The University of Iowa and delivered via the Internet to inexpensive personal computers in the workplace. The emerging standard of the World Wide Web is used to provide cross-platform distribution.

Usage analysis of a primary care medical resource on the internet

Physicians and patients need convenient access to quality medical information. This studys goal was to place a medical resource on the World-Wide Web (WWW), allow access to it through a simple to use interface, and analyze the usage of such a resource. The Family Practice Handbook (TFPH) was digitized and placed onto the WWW. Usage data was obtained from June 1995-June 1996. 118,804 individuals accessed TFPH viewing 409,711 pages of information. A broad spectrum of topics was accessed. TFPH proved to be an extremely popular resource, servicing the broad information needs of an international audience. These preliminary findings suggest the future promise of Internet medical resources.

Solutions to Challenges Facing a University Digital Library and Press

During the creation of a university digital library and press intended to serve as a medical reference and education tool for health care providers and their patients, six distinct and complex digital publishing challenges were encountered. Over nine years, through a multidisciplinary approach, solutions were devised to the challenges of digital content ownership, management, mirroring, translation, interactions with users, and archiving. The result is a unique, author-owned, internationally mirrored, university digital library and press that serves as an authoritative medical reference and education tool for users around the world. The purpose of this paper is to share the valuable digital publishing lessons learned and outline the challenges facing university digital libraries and presses.

Information needs and information-seeking behaviors of on-call radiology residents

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES The authors performed a baseline analysis of the information needs and information-seeking behaviors of on-call radiology residents to learn how to better serve their on-call information needs in the future. MATERIALS AND METHODS Print, electronic, and human information resources were made conveniently available to on-call radiology residents. A prospective, descriptive study was performed by using a modification of the critical incident technique to gather data from the residents every morning after being on call. Residents were asked to recall questions that arose, whether they sought answers to the questions, where they searched for answers, whether their search was successful, and whether they believed that patient care was affected. RESULTS The residents had 182 questions that encompassed all organ systems, imaging modalities, and aspects of radiologic practice. Residents sought answers to 138 of the 182 questions (76%) by using a wide variety of resources, with staff members and textbooks being the most common. They found answers to 114 of 138 questions (83%); 100 of the 114 (88%) answered questions affected patient care. CONCLUSION The ideal way to meet the information needs of on-call radiology residents is to devise an authoritative information resource that is compatible with their information-seeking behaviors.

Radiologic education of pediatric residents during morning report

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES The authors assessed the radiologic educational content of a pediatric morning report teaching conference to determine ways of improving radiologic education of pediatric residents. MATERIALS AND METHODS The authors conducted a prospective, observational study from September 1995 to June 1996. Data collected from conference case presentations included types of radiologic studies shown and unanswered radiologic questions. RESULTS During 388 case presentations, 559 radiologic studies were shown. Imaging modalities most commonly shown were plain radiography, computed tomography (CT), and ultrasound. The most common types of images shown were chest and abdominal plain radiographs and head CT scans. Common unanswered questions concerned radiologic study indications and techniques and radiologic appearance of diseases. CONCLUSION Pediatric residents must learn basic radiologic interpretation methods, imaging approaches to common problems, and ways of using the radiologist as a consultant. A large part of their radiologic education occurs in morning report, from nonradiologists. Participating in a morning report is an important way for radiologists to enhance the education of primary care residents.

The Iowa Health Book: creating, organizing and distributing a digital medical library of multimedia consumer health information on the Internet to improve rural health care by increasing rural patient access to information

Patients need access to consumer health information in order to improve their health and well-being. Rural patients, by nature of their geographic location, have limited access to such information. A partnership has been formed between non-profit public health organizations, a health sciences library, a tertiary care medical center, a medical informatics laboratory, a state library system, and the citizens of Iowa. The purpose of the partnership is to create, organize and distribute a digital medical library of multimedia consumer health information on the Internet in order to improve rural patient access to consumer health information.

Case 164: Funicular Type of Spermatic Cord Hydrocele

Differentiation of funicular hydrocele from simple scrotal hydrocele with US is essential, as the management of these entities is different.

Educational Technology Network: a computer conferencing system dedicated to applications of computers in radiology practice, research, and education.

Educational Technology Network (ET Net) is a free, easy to use, on-line computer conferencing system organized and funded by the National Library of Medicine that is accessible via the SprintNet (SprintNet, Reston, VA) and Internet (Merit, Ann Arbor, MI) computer networks. It is dedicated to helping bring together, in a single continuously running electronic forum, developers and users of computer applications in the health sciences, including radiology. ET Net uses the Caucus computer conferencing software (Camber-Roth, Troy, NY) running on a microcomputer. This microcomputer is located in the National Library of Medicines Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical Communications and is directly connected to the SprintNet and the Internet networks. The advanced computer conferencing software of ET Net allows individuals who are separated in space and time to unite electronically to participate, at any time, in interactive discussions on applications of computers in radiology. A computer conferencing system such as ET Net allows radiologists to maintain contact with colleagues on a regular basis when they are not physically together. Topics of discussion on ET Net encompass all applications of computers in radiological practice, research, and education. ET Net has been in successful operation for 3 years and has a promising future aiding radiologists in the exchange of information pertaining to applications of computers in radiology.

Pediatric extracranial applications of MR angiography

Extracranial magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) was performed in 20 children to evaluate for various arterial and venous conditions. Time-of-flight and phase-contrast angiograms were constructed using a maximal-intensity-projection algorithm. The accuracy of MRA was comparable to Doppler ultrasound (n = 12) and conventional angiography (n = 3). MRA could provide an excellent mapping of patent (including collaterals) versus thrombosed vessels at sites not evaluated or inaccessible by sonography. Limitations included assessment of small and/or tortuous vessels, severely stenotic lesions, and very slow flow.