Students in diagnostic imaging programs benefit from opportunities to improve their process and consider how they will manage a variety of patient interactions. They also must learn how to maintain composure before they begin working with patients. Role-playing gives students a chance to consider what they might say and do in real-life situations. Patients who present to the clinic for a foot examination might have skin conditions, such as ulcers and necrosis, caused by disease complications. A common cause for these types of skin conditions is diabetes; in the United States, about 13% of patients with diabetes have foot ulcers. Signs of foot ulcers include dry, thickened, and discolored skin surrounding the wound, pus drainage, swelling, redness, and a foul odor. A radiography student's first time imaging an ulcerated or necrotic foot can be an unforgettable and uncomfortable experience if he or she is not prepared. To simulate the experience of imaging a patient with these conditions, I used common items to create a strong odor and the appearance of shedding skin and open wounds. After this transformation, first-year students completed a simulation of a 3-view foot and 3-view ankle examination.
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