Training activity information
Details
Investigate and critically evaluate a new or emerging MR technique or hardware development, considering its potential role in patient care
Type
Developmental training activity (DTA)
Evidence requirements
Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee.
Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.
An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.
Considerations
- Literature and evidence base
- Clinical context and potential patient benefit
- Advantages, weaknesses, opportunities, problems for clinical application
- System design and operation
- Advantages and limitations of techniques
- Clinical applications
- Standards and guidance
- Clinical evaluation and validation of new techniques
Reflective practice guidance
The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.
Before action
- Are there any specific new techniques or hardware developments that are of particular interest or relevance to your training?
- What do you need to know before embarking on the activity? What are some recent advancements in MRI techniques or hardware?
- What are the current limitations of existing MRI methods that these developments aim to address? How is the potential impact on patient care assessed for new technologies?
- Consider the specific insights you hope to gain from engaging with the activity. What are the principles behind the new MR technique or hardware development? What are its potential advantages and disadvantages? How might it improve patient diagnosis, treatment planning, or monitoring?
- Think about what you already know about the task / activity. Are you aware of any recent trends or innovations in MRI technology?
- Discuss the training activity with your training officer to gain clarity of understanding. Which new technique or hardware development should you investigate? What criteria should you use for your critical evaluation, particularly regarding its potential role in patient care?
- Consider possible challenges you might face during the activity, and think about how you might handle them. How will you find reliable information about cutting-edge MRI developments?
- How will you critically assess the claims and evidence supporting their potential? How will you formulate a balanced evaluation of their role in patient care?
- Identify how you feel about embarking on this training activity. What are your initial thoughts on the challenges of evaluating unproven technologies?
In action
- Pay attention to your actions.
- How are you approaching the investigation and critical evaluation of the new MR technique or hardware?
- What sources of information are you using?
- What decisions are you making as you assess the technical principles, potential benefits, limitations, and feasibility of implementing the new development in patient care?
- What aspects of established MRI techniques are relevant to understanding the new development, and what requires exploring novel concepts and potential clinical applications?
- How effective are your actions in gaining a comprehensive understanding and forming a critical evaluation of the new MR development?
- What challenges are you facing during your investigation (e.g., accessing cutting-edge research, understanding complex technical details, assessing its translational potential)?
- What can you learn about the process of innovation in MRI technology and the considerations for its adoption in clinical practice?
- How does this activity connect to your understanding of the frontiers of MRI research and its potential to improve patient outcomes?
- Are there alternative perspectives on the potential or limitations of this new development that you should consider in your evaluation?
- What support or guidance might you need in this moment, such as access to experts in the field or further information on the technique or hardware?
- Are you ensuring your evaluation is balanced, evidence-based, and clearly considers the potential role in patient care?
On action
- What were the key principles and potential advantages of the new or emerging MR technique or hardware development you investigated?
- What evidence did you find regarding its technical performance and potential clinical applications?
- What considerations need to be addressed regarding its integration into routine patient care?
- What did you learn about the process of scientific and technological innovation in the field of MRI?
- Did you gain a better understanding of how new techniques and hardware developments are evaluated for their potential clinical impact?
- What did you learn about the factors that influence the adoption of new technologies in healthcare?
- How will you stay informed about future advancements in MRI technology?
- What criteria will you use to critically evaluate new MR techniques and hardware developments?
- How might you contribute to the assessment and implementation of promising new technologies in your future practice?
Beyond action
- Have you continued to follow the development and potential clinical translation of the MR technique or hardware you evaluated during this training activity?
- Have you investigated other new or emerging MR technologies and considered their potential impact on diagnostic imaging and patient management?
- Have you discussed the potential benefits and limitations of novel MR techniques with colleagues or through attendance at scientific meetings or conferences?
- How has this activity enhanced your ability to critically evaluate new information and research findings in the field of MRI?
- Has this experience improved your awareness of the ongoing innovation in MRI technology and its potential to address current clinical challenges?
- How has the learning from this training activity influenced your approach to staying informed about advancements in MRI and their potential relevance to your clinical practice?
- How will your skills in investigating and critically evaluating new MR technologies support your ability to champion the adoption of beneficial innovations within your department?
- What clear actions for continued development in your horizon scanning abilities, critical appraisal skills, or understanding of the innovation lifecycle in medical technology have you identified?
- How might this experience contribute to your ability to provide informed opinions and recommendations on the strategic direction of MRI services within your institution?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 10 |
Outcome
Appraise the key issues of an emerging technique/technology and a hybrid modality. |