Interdisciplinary collaborative teaching in vascular surgery training: A randomized trial of radiologist-surgeon partnership in China

TL;DR

A study in China shows that combining radiologist and surgeon teaching improves vascular surgery trainees' diagnostic and communication skills.

Contribution

This paper introduces and validates a new interdisciplinary teaching model in vascular surgery training.

Findings

Collaborative teaching improved CT interpretation accuracy by 21% compared to traditional methods.

Trainees in the experimental group showed significantly better diagnostic accuracy and treatment planning.

Communication skills scores were notably higher in the interdisciplinary group.

Abstract

This randomized controlled trial evaluates an innovative interdisciplinary teaching model co-led by radiologists and vascular surgeons within China’s standardized residency training program. Forty trainees were randomized into two groups: one receiving collaborative teaching, which included joint lectures, radiologist-attended ward rounds, and interdisciplinary case conferences; and the other undergoing traditional vascular single-discipline training. The experimental group exhibited superior performance in CT interpretation accuracy (92.0% vs. 71.0%, P < 0.01), diagnostic accuracy (87.0% vs. 67.0%, P < 0.01), treatment plan rationality (mean 4.40 ± 0.75 vs. 3.65 ± 0.88, P < 0.01), and communication skills (median 43.00 vs. 33.00, P < 0.0001). These findings validate that structured interdisciplinary collaboration effectively bridges the gap between radiology and clinical practice, suggesting a paradigm shift in vascular surgical education.

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