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

**Authors:** Xin Li, Wei Hu

PMC · DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0341266 · 2026-01-27

## 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.

## Key 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.

## Figures

4 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12843586/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12843586