Learning to report.
OBJECTIVE
In radiology residency programs it is the task of residents to learn how to effectively report the findings and impressions from patient images they review, generally from an apprenticeship design. The authors sought to learn residents' perceptions of the value this apprenticeship model holds for them.


METHODS
Thirty-eight residents were interviewed in a 1-month field study and asked four questions about their experiences: How did you learn to report? What formal or organized dictation instruction have you received? What feedback do you receive? What is your opinion about your experience?


RESULTS
It was found that residents perceive that the apprenticeship model is inadequate when learning to report. The authors found reporting issues could be classified into three categories: perceived lack of transferable learning from observation, lack of explicit direction from faculty, and need for a more structured approach to learning.


CONCLUSIONS
Although residents agreed that learning the skills to report would be gained eventually through the apprenticeship model, they also believed that it did not give them the confidence or competence a more structured program could provide.
Department of Radiology, Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis 46202-5200, USA.
Jennifer L
JL
Steele
James M
JM
Nyce
Kenneth B
KB
Williamson
Richard B
RB
Gunderman
D002983:Clinical Competence; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000458:organization & administration; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007721:Knowledge of Results, Psychological; D007858:Learning; D008499:Medical Records; D017145:Models, Educational; D010465:Perception; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*