BACKGROUND: Accurate interpretation of chest radiographs (CXR) is essential as clinical decisions depend on readings. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate CXR interpretation ability at different levels of training and to determine factors associated with successful interpretation. DESIGN: Ten CXR were selected from the teaching file of the internal medicine (IM) department. Participants were asked to record the most important diagnosis, their certainty in that diagnosis, interest in a pulmonary career and adequacy of CXR training. Two investigators independently scored each CXR on a scale of 0 to 2. PARTICIPANTS: Participants (n=145) from a single teaching hospital were third year medical students (MS) (n=25), IM interns (n=44), IM residents (n=45), fellows from the divisions of cardiology and pulmonary/critical care (n=16), and radiology residents (n=15). RESULTS: The median overall score was 11 of 20. An increased level of training was associated with overall score (MS 8, intern 10, IM resident 13, fellow 15, radiology resident 18, P<.001). Overall certainty was significantly correlated with overall score (r=.613, P<.001). Internal medicine interns and residents interested in a pulmonary career scored 14 of 20 while those not interested scored 11 (P=.027). Pneumothorax, misplaced central line, and pneumoperitoneum were diagnosed correctly 9%, 26%, and 46% of the time, respectively. Only 20 of 131 (15%) participants felt their CXR training sufficient. CONCLUSION: We identified factors associated with successful CXR interpretation, including level of training, field of training, interest in a pulmonary career and overall certainty. Although interpretation improved with training, important diagnoses were missed.
BACKGROUND: Accurate interpretation of chest radiographs (CXR) is essential as clinical decisions depend on readings. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate CXR interpretation ability at different levels of training and to determine factors associated with successful interpretation. DESIGN: Ten CXR were selected from the teaching file of the internal medicine (IM) department. Participants were asked to record the most important diagnosis, their certainty in that diagnosis, interest in a pulmonary career and adequacy of CXR training. Two investigators independently scored each CXR on a scale of 0 to 2. PARTICIPANTS: Participants (n=145) from a single teaching hospital were third year medical students (MS) (n=25), IM interns (n=44), IM residents (n=45), fellows from the divisions of cardiology and pulmonary/critical care (n=16), and radiology residents (n=15). RESULTS: The median overall score was 11 of 20. An increased level of training was associated with overall score (MS 8, intern 10, IM resident 13, fellow 15, radiology resident 18, P<.001). Overall certainty was significantly correlated with overall score (r=.613, P<.001). Internal medicine interns and residents interested in a pulmonary career scored 14 of 20 while those not interested scored 11 (P=.027). Pneumothorax, misplaced central line, and pneumoperitoneum were diagnosed correctly 9%, 26%, and 46% of the time, respectively. Only 20 of 131 (15%) participants felt their CXR training sufficient. CONCLUSION: We identified factors associated with successful CXR interpretation, including level of training, field of training, interest in a pulmonary career and overall certainty. Although interpretation improved with training, important diagnoses were missed.
Authors: J Eng; W K Mysko; G E Weller; R Renard; J N Gitlin; D A Bluemke; D Magid; G D Kelen; W W Scott Journal: AJR Am J Roentgenol Date: 2000-11 Impact factor: 3.959
Authors: B Kaufman; P Dhar; D K O'Neill; B Leitman; C M Fermon; S B Wahlander; K M Sutin Journal: J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth Date: 2001-12 Impact factor: 2.628
Authors: Teodoro Rudolphi-Solero; Alberto Jimenez-Zayas; Rocio Lorenzo-Alvarez; Dolores Domínguez-Pinos; Miguel Jose Ruiz-Gomez; Francisco Sendra-Portero Journal: Insights Imaging Date: 2021-06-29