Assessing the Usability and Educational Value of an Interactive Webcomic for Nuclear Medicine Education: A Pilot Study with Radiographer Students and Lecturers

Aim and Research Question(s)

The aim of this master thesis ist to evaluate an interactive webcomic designed for radiographer students and lecturers to enhance the understanding of nuclear medicine examinations. By blending visual storytelling with interactive elements, it addresses gaps in current education methods and encourages active learning. This pilot study is guided by two main questions: RQ1: To what extent do radiographer students comprehend and retain the information presented in the interactive webcomic following the intervention? RQ2: How do radiographer students and nuclear medicine lecturers rate the interactive webcomic in terms of usability, perceived educational value, and ease of use? This research addresses the feasibility as well as the educational impact and user experience.

Background

Nuclear medicine plays a critical role in healthcare, particularly in the early detection and treatment of tumors. Evidently, enhanced teaching methodologies and learning experiences have become progressively important in order to keep up with the fast-paced advancements made in healthcare. Therefore, this thesis proposes an interactive webcomic as a novel tool to improve student engagement and understanding, aiming to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application in nuclear medicine education.

Methods

This study employed a mixed-methods approach to evaluate the interactive webcomic with 10 radiographer students and 2 nuclear medicine lecturers. It included pre- and post-tests to measure learning outcomes and usability metrics using instruments such as the System Usability Scale (SUS), Single Ease Question (SEQ), and NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX). The tests also assessed students' baseline knowledge, learning preferences, and expectations for the webcomic. Additionally, semi-structured interviews with the lecturers provided qualitative insights into the tool's educational value.

Results and Discussion

The study found a positive trend in students' understanding of nuclear medicine concepts after using the interactive webcomic, though the improvement in knowledge retention was not statistically significant. The webcomic received high ratings for usability, educational value, and ease of use, as indicated by strong SUS and SEQ scores. Qualitative feedback from students and lecturers highlighted increased engagement and comprehension, suggesting that such interactive tools can effectively supplement traditional teaching methods. However, the study's small sample size limits generalizability, and further research with larger cohorts is needed to validate its impact on long-term learning outcomes.

Conclusion

The interactive webcomic effectively enhances student engagement and understanding in nuclear medicine education. Although the tool was positively received for its usability and educational value, further studies are needed to establish its impact on long-term knowledge retention.

References

D. Volterrani, P. A. Erba, I. Carrió, H. W. Strauss, und G. Mariani, Hrsg., Nuclear Medicine Textbook: Methodology and Clinical Applications. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2019. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-95564-3.