General practitioners' views on radiology reports of plain radiography for back pain.
OBJECTIVE
To identify and describe general practitioners' (GPs') views on radiology reports, using plain radiography for back pain as the case.


METHODS
Qualitative study with three focus-group interviews analysed using Giorgi's method as modified by Malterud.


METHODS
Southern Norway.


METHODS
Five female and eight male GPs aged 32-57 years who had practised for 3-15 years and were from 11 different practices.


METHODS
Descriptions of GPs' views.


RESULTS
GPs wanted radiology reports to indicate more clearly the meaning of radiological terminology, the likelihood of disease, the clinical relevance of the findings, and/or the need for further investigations. GPs stated that good referral information leads to better reports.


CONCLUSIONS
These results can help to improve communication between radiologists and GPs. The issues identified in this study could be further investigated in studies that can quantify GPs' satisfaction with radiology reports in relation to characteristics of the GP, the radiologist, and the referral information.
Espeland
Ansgar
A
Department of Radiology, Haukeland University Hospital and Section for Radiology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. ansgar.espeland@helse-bergen.no
Baerheim
Anders
A
D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011859:Radiography; D011873:Radiology Information Systems / Q000592:standards; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards; D009626:Terminology as Topic