Abstract: Objective To investigate the application values of the picture achieving and communicating system (PACS) in the practice learning in the course of medical imaging.Methods Taking 90 eight-year program medical students of class 2012 and 2013 of Peking University Health Science Center as the research object. They were divided into experimental group (n=47) and the control group (n=43) according to class of 2013 and 2012, respectively. In the experimental group, PACS was introduced in the practice learning of the medical imaging. In the control group, conventional films were used. The application values of PACS were evaluated by the results of questionnaires and examinations.Results The scores of practice learning of medical imaging in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group (t=3.108, P<0.05). Based on questionnaires after the courses, all students in the experimental group were satisfied with the using of PACS in practice learning of medical imaging.Conclusions PACS is a useful tool in the practice learning of medical imaging, and could be generalized in the future.

Key words: Picture achieving and communicating system (PACS), Medical imaging, Teaching, Application