Status of residency training in mammography.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to survey the status of residency training in mammography, including mammography quality assurance, and to compare the results with previous surveys from 1990 and 1992.


METHODS
A telephone interview was conducted with 213 chief residents and 11 other senior residents representing all 224 accredited residency programs in diagnostic radiology.


RESULTS
Compared with 1990, more programs had exclusive mammography rotations (74% versus 40%). The number of fellowships in breast imaging increased from 17 to 76. More training programs differentiated screening from diagnostic examinations (50% versus 35%). Compared with 1992, the percentage of residents who knew recommended frequencies of quality control procedures increased by 30% and the percentage who knew the maximum allowable radiation dose increased by 50%. Residents lacked fundamental knowledge about conducting medical audits, such as calculating the positive predictive value for biopsies.


CONCLUSIONS
More time is being devoted to breast imaging in diagnostic radiology residency training, and residents show greater knowledge about mammography quality assurance.
Lubisich
J P
JP
Department of Radiological Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, School of Medicine 90024-6952, USA.
Bassett
L W
LW
Bresch
J A
JA
Jessop
N W
NW
D000068:Accreditation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D008327:Mammography / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States