Relationships between radiologists and clinicians: results from three surveys.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse reasons for and the nature of clinico-radiological contacts and their clinical impact.


METHODS
Three different surveys were performed. (1) Data concerning contacts between staff radiologists (n = 20) and clinicians during 10 consecutive working days were collected; (2) staff clinicians (n = 174) filled in a questionnaire asking for their opinions about relationships with radiologists; (3) staff radiologists collected data about contacts with clinicians related to more urgent/complicated cases. Radiologists assessed the clinical impact of the radiological procedure and of the consultation.


RESULTS
(1) During 220 working days 20 radiologists had a mean of 3.95 contacts per day (48.2% personal contacts, 51.8% telephone contacts), amounting to a personal total of 21.65 min per day. These contacts amounted to a total of 7.08 h per day, roughly one whole-time equivalent radiologist. (2) These consultations helped to refine the diagnostic strategy often (12.6%) or sometimes (71.4%) and to alter therapeutic decisions often (10.4%) or sometimes (56.6%). (3) The initial clinical diagnosis was changed in 50% of cases and the therapy was substantially changed on the basis of further radiological investigations and clinical-radiological discussion in 60% of cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical-radiological consultations are time consuming but have a beneficial diagnostic and therapeutic impact.
Dalla Palma
L
L
Department of Radiology, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
Stacul
F
F
Meduri
S
S
Geitung
J T
JT
D019468:Disease Management; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D011871:Radiology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011872:Radiology Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D000078329:Workforce; D016526:Workload