The Impact of Web-based PACS as Educational and Teaching Resources in Diagnostic Radiology

Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish an electronic database worked as a link between the clinical and education institute to be used in education and teaching by radiography students and professional as well as faculty members in both self and organizational education. It design to develop necessary competencies and applied learning outcomes. This balance is necessary to meet the needs of changing the health care environment in education and practice. The utilization of the advance imaging modality in education need more improvement, PACS role in education and research in radiology department still not clear and need many works to improve it. The research develops a link between a PACS system which mainly used as a clinical tool for archiving & communicating and education environment at university. The study were then broken to 3 main stages takes place in about 3 years extended to one more year for more findings and results. The study evaluation accomplished using the findings which collected from the database utilizations and online questionnaire. Phase one was to establish a web database to work online as well as offline in both Internet and Ethernet environment, this database interface appear to the users through a webpage www.uospacs.com. The research stakeholders “Students, Health Professionals and Faculty Members” are then able to register their own account at the database to become either learner or educator. The database linked to the PACS system available at educational laboratory which become as offline/online server where all Digital Teaching File (DTF) where stored, archived and retrieve from it as well as it gave the images used to be viewed in the DICOM format. At phase two and three the researcher start to upload a complete DTF to be used by the stakeholders in teaching and learning. This DTF where designed, constructed and defined to accomplish specific learning outcomes and educational competency for undergraduate students and radiology professionals. The database then uploaded with different type of educational materials in different format “PowerPoint Presentation, Lectures, Seminars and conferences topics” as well as training courses and Electronic Atlas Artifacts. During phase 2 the researcher start to present different activity to publicized the database among different educational institute in UAE, Sudan, Egypt, KSA and Oman. These activities attract many users to participated and engaged at the database activity. Many users start to share their knowledge and convert their interesting case they were practicing at clinical to DTF. The research result concept used both qualitative and quantitative research approaches and data collection methods included questionnaire and database utilization statistics. the users learning competency and usefulness of the database contents collected through the online questionnaire which collect the users feedback and comments. The responses indicated great satisfaction towards the database contents, design, and uploaded material and it was clear that the DTF is useful to develop the critical thinking and long life learning for both students and radiography professionals.

Study Advancements and innovative aspects include: 1. The DTF framework concept provides a clear pathway for student and radiology professionals to develop their education competency in two major learning outcomes “critical thinking and long life learning” 2. The DTF is considered to be an integrative educational tool based on individual clinical experiences and applied in either academic or clinical subjects. 3. The development of PACS connectivity to web database educational system 4. The ability to adapt online/ offline web database system environment. Finally, it is the introduction of good practice of sharing the knowledge gained in clinical practice and converted to educational material to raised the practice competency and outcomes, as well as utilize the functionalities of powerful attractive imaging technology in education are most crucial factors.