Accuracy of radiographers red dot or triage of accident and emergency radiographs in clinical practice: a systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the accuracy of radiographers red dot or triage of accident and emergency (A&E) radiographs in clinical practice.


METHODS
Eligible studies assessed radiographers red dot or triage of A&E radiographs in clinical practice compared with a reference standard and provided accuracy data to construct 2 x 2 tables. Data were extracted on study eligibility and characteristics, quality, and accuracy. Pooled sensitivities and specificities and chi-square tests of heterogeneity were calculated.


RESULTS
Three red dot and five triage studies were eligible for inclusion. Radiographers' red dot of A&E radiographs in clinical practice compared with a reference standard is 0.87 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.85-0.89] and 0.92 (0.91-0.93) sensitivity and specificity, respectively. Radiographers' triage of A&E radiographs of the skeleton is 0.90 (0.89-0.92) and 0.94 (0.93-0.94) sensitivity and specificity, respectively; and for chest and abdomen is 0.78 (0.74-0.82) and 0.91 (0.88-0.93). Radiographers' red dot of skeletal A&E radiographs without training is 0.71 (0.62-0.79) and 0.96 (0.93-0.97) sensitivity and specificity, respectively; and with training is 0.81 (0.72-0.87) and 0.95 (0.93-0.97). Pooled sensitivity and specificity for radiographers without training for the triage of skeletal A&E radiographs is 0.89 (0.88-0.91) and 0.93 (0.92-0.94); and with training is 0.91 (0.88-0.94) and 0.95 (0.93-0.96).


CONCLUSIONS
Radiographers red dot or triage of A&E radiographs in clinical practice is affected by body area, but not by training.
Brealey
S
S
York Trials Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York. sb143@york.ac.uk
Scally
A
A
Hahn
S
S
Thomas
N
N
Godfrey
C
C
Crane
S
S
D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D004630:Emergencies; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography / Q000592:standards*; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education; D012015:Reference Standards; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014218:Triage / Q000592:standards*