Implementation and Outcomes of a Resident-led Physics Curriculum with Integration of the RSNA/AAPM Physics Modules

Rationale and Objectives With the impending integration of clinically relevant physics into the new American Board of Radiology Core exam, diagnostic radiology residency programs are faced with the challenge of how best to adapt the teaching of radiologic physics to residents. We present a novel resident-led physics curriculum that replaces the traditional didactic structure used in previous years. The hypothesis is that a self-teaching curriculum will facilitate greater retention of core physics concepts and foster a mentality of independent learning. We present both the implementation of this new curriculum and the initial outcomes. Materials and Methods A 2-year resident-led physics curriculum was designed and implemented, with integration of the Radiological Society of North America/American Association of Physicists in Medicine online Physics Modules. A preimplementation survey was completed by residents to assess opinions on the previous lecture-based didactic curriculum. A postimplementation survey was then administered six months into the new resident-led curriculum. DXIT Physics percentile scores were compared before and after the curriculum change. The outcomes analysis of this study was approved by the University of Pittsburgh Institutional Review Board and issued IRB approval #PRO13050022. Results Average Physics DXIT percentile scores improved by 24.1% after the implementation of the resident-led curriculum. Results from the postimplementation survey reveal that 36% of residents think the change was a “Significant Improvement” in physics education. Also, 50% of responses have rated the new curriculum as “Moderately” effective, and an additional 13% of responses have rated the curriculum as “Very-to-Extremely” effective in teaching physics. Conclusions Compared to our prior lecture-based physics curriculum, the change to a resident-led physics curriculum, to teach clinically relevant physics concepts to radiology residents, has been both effective and well received.