title: CT colonography interpretation times: effect of reader experience, fatigue, and scan findings in a multi-centre setting.
abstract: Our purpose was to assess the effect of reader experience, fatigue, and scan findings on interpretation time for CT colonography. Nine radiologists (experienced in CT colonography); nine radiologists and ten technicians (both groups trained using 50 validated examinations) read 40 cases (50% abnormal) under controlled conditions. Individual interpretation times for each case were recorded, and differences between groups determined. Multi-level linear regression was used to investigate effect of scan category (normal or abnormal) and observer fatigue on interpretation times. Experienced radiologists (mean time 10.9 min, SD 5.2) reported significantly faster than less experienced radiologists and technicians; odds ratios of reporting times 1.4 (CI 1.1, 1.8) and 1.6 (1.3, 2.0), respectively (P<or=0.001). Experienced and less-experienced radiologists took longer to report abnormal cases; ratio 1.2 (CI 1.1,1.4, P<0.001) and 1.2 (1.0, 1.3, P=0.03), respectively. All groups took 70% as long to report the final five cases as they did with an initial five; ratio 0.7 (CI 0.6 to 0.8), P<0.001. For technicians only, accuracy increased with longer reporting times (P=0.04). Experienced radiologists report faster than do less-experienced observers and proportionally spend less time interpreting normal cases. Technicians who report more slowly are more accurate. All groups reported faster as the study period progressed.
authors.affiliation: Intestinal Imaging Centre, St. Marks Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Burling
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Halligan
authors.forename: Douglas G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Altman
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Atkin
authors.forename: Clive
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bartram
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fenlon
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laghi
authors.forename: Jaap
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stoker
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frost
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dessey
authors.forename: Melinda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Villiers
authors.forename: Jasper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Florie
authors.forename: Shane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Foley
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Honeyfield
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Iannaccone
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Clive
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kay
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lefere
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.forename: Filipo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mangiapane
authors.forename: Jesse
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marrannes
authors.forename: Emmanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nieddu
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: O'Hare
authors.forename: Sante
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ori
authors.forename: Benedetta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Politi
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poulus
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Regge
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Renaut
authors.forename: Velauthan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rudralingham
authors.forename: Saverio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Signoretta
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vagli
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Van der Hulst
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Williams-Butt
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D023881:Colonography, Computed Tomographic / Q000592:standards*; D005060:Europe; D005221:Fatigue / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D015588:Observer Variation; D013997:Time Factors