Rationale and objectives: Despite its increasing use in training other medical specialties, high-fidelity simulation to prepare diagnostic radiology residents for call remains an underused educational resource. To attempt to characterize the barriers toward adoption of this technology, we conducted a survey of academic radiologists and radiology trainees.
Materials and methods: An Institutional Review Board-approved survey was distributed to the Association of University Radiologists members via e-mail. Survey results were collected electronically, tabulated, and analyzed.
Results: A total of 68 survey responses representing 51 programs were received from program directors, department chairs, chief residents, and program administrators. The most common form of educational activity for resident call preparation was lectures. Faculty supervised "baby call" was also widely reported. Actual simulated call environments were quite rare with only three programs reporting this type of educational activity. Barriers to the use of simulation include lack of faculty time, lack of faculty expertise, and lack of perceived need.
Conclusions: High-fidelity simulation can be used to mimic the high-stress, high-stakes independent call environment that the typical radiology resident encounters during the second year of training, and can provide objective data for program directors to assess the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education milestones. We predict that this technology will begin to supplement traditional diagnostic radiology teaching methods and to improve patient care and safety in the next decade.
Keywords: High-fidelity simulation; call preparedness; radiology resident education.
Published by Elsevier Inc.