Recruiting
Phase 3

Observational Study

Sponsor:

Université de Montréal

Code:

NCT01883570

Conditions

Using Expert Visual Search Strategy to Train Students to Read the Chest X-ray

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 0+

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Interventions

training in visual search strategy

access to a library of chest x-rays without search strategy

Study Details

Brief summary:

Currently, teaching X-ray interpretation to medical students is not standardized, and is generally not very effective.

Objective: The goal of our study is to evaluate whether directly teaching an expert search strategy for x-ray interpretation to 3d year medical students is effective.

Methods:

  • An expert's visual search strategy was recorded using a gaze-tracking device. The search strategy was then reproduced using a dynamic cursor moving across the corresponding chest x-ray, and incorporated into a teaching program accessible via the internet.
  • Participants are 3rd year medical students who will be randomized into two groups. The experimental group will have access to the teaching program as described. The control group will have access to the same x-rays but not the expert's search strategy.
  • At the end of the study period the investigators will collect performance data (the participants' accuracy at reading a series of chest x-rays) and process data (using gaze-tracking to evaluate the participants' search strategies); the experimental and control groups will be compared.

Expected results:

The investigators expect the group trained in expert search strategy to show improved accuracy at reading chest x-rays, and an improvement in their visual search strategy

Conditions

Using Expert Visual Search Strategy to Train Students to Read the Chest X-ray

Study ID

NCT01883570

Start date

Jun, 2013

Status verified date

Jun, 2013

Completion date

Aug, 2013

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Jul, 2013

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 0+

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 3rd year medical students enrolled in medicine or surgery rotations during the planned study period

Study Design

Enrollment

40 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: trained visual search strategy

An expert's visual search strategy for reading the chest x-ray was recorded using a gaze tracking device. This strategy was reproduced using a dynamic cursor and will be made available to participants in the experimental group using an interactive website.

active comparator: not trained in visual search strategy

Participants will learn to read chest x-rays by having access to a library of chest x-rays identical to the one used by the experimental arm, but without the search strategy.

Interventions

training in visual search strategy

access to a library of chest x-rays without search strategy

Primary outcome measure

  • Improvement in medical student's visual search strategy at reading a chest x-ray [ Time Frame: 2 months ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Locations

Hopital Maisonneuve-Rosemont

Recruiting

Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H1T 2M4

Contacts

George Rakovich, MD

514-252-3400george.rakovich@umontreal.ca

More Information

Sponsor

Université de Montréal

Last update posted

Jun 21, 2013

Last verified

Jun, 2013

Keywords

  • visual search strategy, training, chest x-ray

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Université de Montréal on 2013-06-21.