How Do Medical Imaging Students Perceive Their Instruction of Critical Thinking Skills in Classroom and Clinical Environments?

Abstract

There is a significant soft skills gap in medical imaging students, specifically in critical thinking skills. Critical thinking skills are needed to safely and quickly obtain high quality radiographs in various situations. In this research study, seven radiology students were interviewed to determine how they define critical thinking, and how they perceive their critical thinking instruction in both classroom and clinical environments. It was discovered that students define critical thinking as adapting to the situation. Throughout the interviews, respondents explained their unique experiences as radiology students. They described what they believe to be the best practices for teaching critical thinking skills. They also described challenges and hindrances of developing critical thinking skills throughout their programs.