The Earlier the Better: An Evaluation of Changes to Teaching Year 1 Nuclear Medicine

Abstract

Objective: In 1996 changes were made to the nuclear medicine content and mode of delivery in the Year 1 degree program at The University of Sydney, Australia. The aim was to evaluate whether changes made to the program raised the clinical abilities of students entering their clinical placement in Year 2.

Methods: Questionnaires to assess the students’ perception of how well Year 1 had prepared them for their clinical Year 2 were distributed to both the 1995 and 1996 students. The clinical supervisors also were surveyed to determine if the 1996 students demonstrated any difference in their understanding and application of nuclear medicine technology principles.

Results: The 1996 students were more positive about their clinical readiness and the clinical supervisors observed an increased level of understanding and application by the 1996 students.

Conclusion: Changes in the Year 1 curriculum provided students with a higher level of clinical readiness at the commencement of their Year 2 clinical placement.