How well can radiographers triage x ray films in accident and emergency departments?
OBJECTIVE
To assess the ability of radiographers to identify abnormal radiographs of patients attending accident and emergency departments.


METHODS
Prospective study over six weeks.


METHODS
Teaching hospital casualty x ray department.


METHODS
3394 consecutive patients referred for radiography.


METHODS
Radiographs were assessed by radiographers who were offered a four point triage scheme: normal, abnormal, insignificantly abnormal, or further advice required.


METHODS
Comparison of radiographers' assessments with an assessment made independently by the reporting radiologists.


RESULTS
Overall disagreement between the radiographers and radiologists was 9.4%. There were 7% false positives and 14% false negatives. Most errors occurred in assessing radiographs of the skull, facial bones, chest, abdomen, and soft tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
Unselected radiographers can offer useful advice on radiographs to casualty officers, but their high rate of false positive diagnoses indicates that they cannot triage casualty radiographs sufficiently accurately to allow them to extend their current reporting role.
Renwick
I G
IG
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, St James's University Hospital, Leeds.
Butt
W P
WP
Steele
B
B
D002983:Clinical Competence; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004630:Emergencies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography / Q000592:standards*; D011871:Radiology; D011872:Radiology Department, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D014218:Triage / Q000592:standards*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging