title: The impact of a short course of study on the performance of radiographers when highlighting fractures on trauma radiographs: "The Red Dot System".
abstract: This study was set up to determine the effect of a short course of study on radiographers' ability to identify fractures in a trauma context (Red Dot system). The performance of 133 radiographers attending Red Dot courses delivered from April 1999 to September 2003 was evaluated prospectively using a selected sample of radiographs. Assessment of fracture identification occurred before, immediately after and 6 months after the course. The same film set was used and consisted of 30 axial and appendicular cases, 18 with fractures and 12 normal or normal variants. Following a test for normality of the data, a Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test was selected and paired tests were done between each assessment for sensitivity and specificity. There were significant differences in sensitivity between all three assessments (p<or=0.05), the pre-course/post-course and the post-course/6 month comparison being highly significant (p<or=0.01). Specificity showed significant differences between the pre-course/post-course (p<or=0.01) and the post-course/6 month follow-up scores (p<or=0.05), but no difference was found between the 6 months/pre-course scores. The participants improved their ability to identify fractures and this appears to be as a result of the course. This improvement was not demonstrable after 6 months, although only 30% of participants took part in this follow-up. Radiographers can improve their image interpretation skills from a short course of study, but probably need continuing professional development to maintain these skills.
authors.affiliation: Salford University, Frederick Road Campus, Salford, Manchester M6 6PU, UK.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Mackay
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity