Chest radiographic data acquisition and quality assurance in multicenter studies.
BACKGROUND
Multicenter studies rely on data derived from different institutions. Forms can be designed to standardize the reporting process allowing reliable comparison of data.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the report is to provide a standardized method, developed as a part of a multicenter study of vertically transmitted HIV, for assessing chest radiographic results.


METHODS
Eight hundred and five infants and children were studied at five centers; 3057 chest radiographs were scored. Data were entered using a forced-choice, graded response for 12 findings. Quality assurance measures and inter-rater agreement statistics are reported.


RESULTS
The form used for reporting chest radiographic results is presented. Inter-rater agreement was moderate to high for most findings, with the best correlation reported for the presence of bronchovascular markings and/or reticular densities addressed as a composite question (kappa = 0.71). The presence of nodular densities (kappa = 0.56) and parenchymal consolidation (kappa = 0.57) had moderate agreement. Agreement for lung volume was low.


CONCLUSIONS
The current tool, developed for use in the pediatric population, is applicable to any study involving the assessment of pediatric chest radiographs for a large population, whether at one or many centers.
Cleveland
R H
RH
Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Schluchter
M
M
Wood
B P
BP
Berdon
W E
WE
Boechat
M I
MI
Easley
K A
KA
Meziane
M
M
Mellins
R B
RB
Norton
K I
KI
Singleton
E
E
Trautwein
L
L
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000635:transmission; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008499:Medical Records; D015588:Observer Variation; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States