Impact of PACS on the education of radiology residents: the residents' perspective.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

Because digital imaging and the picture archiving and communication system (PACS) are replacing radiographic film, the effect of PACS on residents' perceptions and their educational experience was investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Residents taking part in large diagnostic radiology training programs at two hospitals were surveyed. Approximately 75% of radiographic studies were reviewed with the use of PACS at both hospitals. Survey topics included technical and didactic issues based on direct and indirect comparison with analog (conventional film) images.

RESULTS

Fifty residents were polled (20 respondents). The majority has been using PACS for more than 1 year (14 of 20, 70%) to interpret 75%-100% of cases (11 of 20, 55%). The majority believed that PACS improved patient care (15 of 20, 75%) and their educational experience (15 of 20, 75%). A minority believed that increased patient throughput was harmful to the educational experience (five of 20, 25%) because it permitted attending radiologists to review cases too quickly (four of 20, 20%). Residents favored PACS over hard-copy images for ease of manipulation, resolution, and ability to see pathologic conditions and normal anatomic characteristics.

CONCLUSION

Residents believe that PACS has positively affected their learning experience and does not negatively affect the quality of resident education.