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Nuklearmedizin 2021; 60(01): 10-15
DOI: 10.1055/a-1267-9017
Original Article

An Open Source Solution for “Hands-on” teaching of PET/CT to Medical Students under the COVID-19 Pandemic

Eine Open-Source-Lösung für den Praxis-Unterricht in PET/CT für Medizinstudenten im Rahmen der COVID-19-Pandemie
Martin Biermann
1   Department of Clinical Medicine, Section for Radiology, University of Bergen Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Bergen, Norway
,
Salim Kanoun
2   Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Toulouse, France
,
Trond Davidsen
3   IT Department, University of Bergen, Norway
,
Robert Gray
4   Department of Education, University of Bergen Faculty of Humanities, Bergen, Norway
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Abstract

Aims Since 2017, medical students at the University of Bergen were taught PET/CT “hands-on” by viewing PET/CT cases in native format on diagnostic workstations in the hospital. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students were barred access. This prompted us to launch and evaluate a new freeware PET/CT viewing system hosted in the university network.

Methods We asked our students to install the multiplatform Fiji viewer with Beth Israel PET/CT plugin (http://petctviewer.org) on their personal computers and connect to a central image database in the university network based on the public domain orthanc server (https://orthanc-server.com). At the end of course, we conducted an anonymous student survey.

Results The new system was online within eight days, including regulatory approval. All 76 students (100 %) in the fifth year completed their course work, reading five anonymized PET/CT cases as planned. 41 (53 %) students answered the survey. Fiji was challenging to install with a mean score of 1.8 on a 5-point Likert scale (5 = easy, 1 = difficult). Fiji was more difficult to use (score 3.0) than the previously used diagnostic workstations in the hospital (score 4.1; p < 0.001, paired t-test). Despite the technical challenge, 47 % of students reported having learnt much (scores 4 and 5); only 11 % were negative (scores 1 and 2). 51 % found the PET/CT tasks engaging (scores 4 and 5) while 20 % and 5 % returned scores 2 and 1, respectively.

Conclusion Despite the initial technical challenge, “hands-on” learning of PET/CT based on the freeware Fiji/orthanc PET/CT-viewer was associated with a high degree of student satisfaction. We plan to continue running the system to give students permanent access to PET/CT cases in native format regardless of time or location.

Zusammenfassung

Ziel Seit 2017 wurden Medizinstudenten an der Universität Bergen in der Praxis in PET/CT unterrichtet, indem sie PET/CT-Fälle im nativen Format an diagnostischen Arbeitsplätzen im Krankenhaus betrachteten. Aufgrund der COVID-19-Pandemie wurde den Studenten dieser Zugang verwehrt. Dies veranlasste uns zur Einführung und Evaluierung eines neuen kostenlosen PET/CT-Bildbetrachtungssystems, das vom Universitätsnetz zur Verfügung gestellt wird.

Methoden Wir baten unsere Studierenden, den Multiplattform-Fiji-Viewer mit dem Beth-Israel-PET/CT-Plugin (http://petctviewer.org) auf ihren PCs zu installieren und Verbindung zur zentralen Bilddatenbank im Universitätsnetz herzustellen, die auf dem frei zugänglichen Orthanc-Server (https://orthanc-server.com) basiert. Am Ende des Kurses führten wir eine anonyme Studentenbefragung durch.

Ergebnisse Das neue System war innerhalb von 8 Tagen online, einschließlich der behördlichen Genehmigung. Alle 76 Studenten (100 %) im fünften Ausbildungsjahr schlossen ihren Kurs ab und bearbeiteten wie geplant 5 anonymisierte PET/CT-Fälle. 41 (53 %) Studenten beantworteten die Umfrage. Fiji wies bei der Installation Probleme auf mit einer durchschnittlichen Bewertung von 1,8 auf einer 5er-Likert-Skala (5 = einfach, 1 = schwierig). Fiji war schwieriger zu bedienen (Bewertung 3,0) als die zuvor im Krankenhaus verwendeten diagnostischen Arbeitsplätze (Bewertung 4,1; p < 0,001; gepaarter t-Test). Trotz der technischen Herausforderung gaben 47 % der Studierenden an, viel gelernt zu haben (Bewertung 4 und 5); nur 11 % gaben negative Bewertungen ab (Bewertung 1 und 2). 51 % fanden die PET/CT-Aufgaben ansprechend (Bewertung 4 und 5), während 20 % die Bewertung 2 und 5 % die Bewertung 1 abgaben.

Schlussfolgerung Trotz der anfänglichen technischen Herausforderung war das „praktische“ Erlernen von PET/CT auf der Basis der Freeware Fiji/Orthanc-PET/CT-Viewer mit einem hohen Grad an Zufriedenheit der Studierenden verbunden. Wir planen, das System weiter zu betreiben, um den Studenten unabhängig von Zeit und Ort einen permanenten Zugang zu PET/CT-Fällen im nativen Format zu ermöglichen.

Key words

nuclear medicine - PET/CT - e-learning - medical education

Schlüsselwörter

Nuklearmedizin - PET/CT - E-Learning - medizinische Ausbildung

Supplement



Publication History

Received: 29 June 2020

Accepted: 13 September 2020

Article published online:
26 October 2020

© 2020. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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