Comparison the Efficacy of a New and Conventional Digital Radiography Method on the Quality improvement of Diagnostic Maxillofacial Radiography Education

In this study، the efficacy of digital radiography، PACS، and educational software in improving the quality of education’s diagnostic principles has been evaluated. In an interventional study، the population was a total number of undergraduate dental students and dent maxillofacial residents who continued their study at radiology department of Ahvaz Jundishapur dental school (N=39). The data gathering tools were two researcher-made questionnaires that compared conventional system and digital system (with PACS). Also a software for anatomic landmarks tracing in panoramic views were prepared and its educational efficacy on improving student learning was evaluated as well. There were significant differences between conventional system and digital system on”Reduction of retake rate”، “Diagnostic quality”، “Changes in density and contrast”، … (P value <0. 05) but the difference was not statistically significant (P value > 0. 05) on “The patient''s arrival time graph” and “report writing time”. Moreover، evaluation of educational software for students tested and the results showed significant difference. Digital radiography، picture archival، and communication system were effective in improving quality of teaching and even patient’s management and also the use of educational software has a significant influence on increasing student knowledge